Govt’s days are numbered: Khaleda

Khaleda Zia has once again called upon the government to initiate talks with her party while cautioning that the ruling dispensation would not “last too long”.

She also warned that ruling Awami League would be held “accountable for its misdeeds” once it is out of power.

The BNP chairperson was speaking at the council of the Jatiyatabadi Shramik Dal, the party’s workers wing, at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) on Saturday.

“You can’t stay in power illegally forever with Ershad by your side. You have very little time left,” she warned.

Khaleda demanded of the government to step down and begin talks on holding elections under a non-partisan government.

“I appeal to the government to stop murder and abduction. Let’s come together, discuss and create a working atmosphere. We have had discussions before and will have them in future too,” she added.

She asked her party men to galvanise under new and young leadership to strengthen the movement against the government.

The BNP chief came down hard on the government saying, “There’s no democracy in the country. We have no freedom of speech. We want to do long-march for water-sharing treaty, but statements (by the government) thwarted it.”

The party has announced a long-march on Apr 22 and 23 towards the Teesta river barrage in Nilphamari.

“Water-flow of each and every river in Bangladesh is decreasing due to the dams over there (India). There’s no water in Padma river. The situation is same for Meghna and Jamuna. We must move for our equal share of water,” said Khaleda.

She further said that they would come up with a detailed plan on water issue, if elected to power again.