'Armed forces above controversy'

The ruling Awami League has asked Opposition Leader Khaleda Zia to refrain from making “provocative comments” against the armed forces.

The party’s Joint General Secretary Dipu Moni at a press briefing on Monday said the armed forces were the “pride” of Bangladesh, created through the war of independence.

She alleged that BNP leaders made “baseless comments” on armed forces as part of their conspiracy to drag them into “controversy”.

She was referring Khaleda Zia’s comments on Sunday on the forces.

The Opposition Leader on Sunday was bitter about the government and came down hard on the law enforcing agencies after she was prevented from leaving her home to join a 'march for democracy' rally.

File Photo

She recalled the 2009 BDR mutiny in which 57 army officers were killed and asked the government: “How many BDR officers have you killed? Where was Hasina then? Where was Hasina that day?”

“Where was this force of Hasina when so many officers were killed, 57 (army) officers were killed?”

She also pointed to a woman police and said: “Where are you from, ‘Gopali’ (from Gopalganj)? Will change the name of Gopalganj, understand? Gopalganj will not exist any longer."

The Awami League organised the press briefing on the second day of the BNP-led 18-Party alliance’s “March for Democracy” aimed at forcing the government to call off the Jan 5 polls the Opposition is boycotting.

Dipu Moni said the BNP used to pine cry for armed forces' help before elections.

She said they would help the civil administration to control law and order during the election so that the polls could be “free, fair and neutral” and people could vote “without fear”.

Moni termed Khaleda Zia’s comments “indecent and beyond political courtesy” and said it stunned the whole nation.

“We condemn such attitude,” she said, adding that Khaleda's words were unbecoming of a politician having faith in democracy.

She alleged that a conspiracy was on to derail Bangladesh from the constitutional system.

She cited violence during recent blockades and shutdowns, hoping that people would make the polls success at any cost.

She also called upon people “to keep vigil against any unholy move”.

She, however, said the government had adopted strict security measures “to protect public life and property”.