Win in movement certain: Khaleda

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has urged people to launch a street agitation against the government after the Eid-ul-Fitr.

She said she was certain about winning in the anti-government movement.

Khaleda was speaking at an Iftar organised by Jatiya Gonotantrik Party, a component of the BNP-led 20-Party Alliance, on Monday.

“There is no legitimate government in the country. The illegitimate government is clinging to power using force,” she said.

“We all will put up resistance together after Eid against the injustice and oppression by the government.

“Allah is with us. The people are with us. Our victory is certain,” she added.

The BNP is demanding a fresh parliamentary election after it boycotted the Jan 5 polls.

The ruling Awami League leaders have rejected the idea and asked the BNP to wait for a full five-year term.

Khaleda said: “The ruling alliance got only 5 percent of the votes (in Jan 5 polls). The remaining 95 percent people are with the 20-Party Alliance.”

The former prime minister levelled charges of corruption and misrule against the government. She said they were not concerned about the wellbeing of the people and development of the country.

“The people are struggling to cope with price rises. The government does not care to deal with it.

“What is the condition of the roads in the capital? The roads and highways of Dhaka have been unfit for traffic. They pay no attention to that,” she further said.

The BNP chief claimed that the government had failed to maintain the law and order.

Referring to abduction attempt on Dhaka Reporters’ Unity President Shahed Chowdhury after attending an Iftar on Sunday, she said ‘hooligans’ and members of RAB, police and detective agencies were trying to subject him to forced disappearance.

“But he was saved due to resistance by the people.”

Khaleda claimed the accused in Narayanganj seven-murder case were being treated like ‘daughters-in-law’ and claimed the incumbent government would not properly try them.

She asked the government to create ‘democratic environment’ that the people desired and the BNP demanded.

Top leaders of other parties in the 20-Party Alliance also attended the Iftar.

Before the Iftar, Khaleda exchanged pleasantries with them.

Shafiul Alam Pradhan and Khondker Lutfor Rahman of Jagpa, Miza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir of the BNP, Aminul Islam of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Abdul Latif Nezami of the Islami Oikya Jote, Muhammad Ishaq of the Khalafat Mojlish, Mostafa Jamal Haider of the Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar) and Syed Muhammad Ibrahim of the Kalyan Party were among those attending the Iftar.