BNP derides Hasina regime as ‘the worst autocratic government’

The BNP says the cases against its chief Khaleda Zia is part of the bigger conspiracy to isolate her from politics.

Speaking at a discussion in Dhaka on Thursday, acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir condemned the Sheikh Hasina regime as ‘the worst autocratic government in the world’.

“They (government) have started a fresh conspiracy against (Khaleda) by filing false cases against her. The only motive is to isolate her by confining her as was done during the one-eleven period.”

The prosecution and arrest of Awami League chief Hasina and Khaleda after the army-installed caretaker government assumed office on Jan 11, 2011 is known as the ‘minus-two formula’.

‘All-party Student Unity Leaders’ organised the discussion marking the death anniversary of Dr Shamsul Alam Milon, who was killed during the anti-Ershad movement in 1990.

Cautioning the government, Fakhrul said: “Democratic movement cannot be stopped by plotting conspiracy or confining the leader (Khaleda). This movement will be further strengthened.”

About the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases against Khaleda, he said: “The government has begun trial of a leader, who was prime minister of the country thrice and who has never been defeated in election in any constituency, at a makeshift court to defame her.”

“We appealed to the High Court against the trial. We are constrained to say we have been aggrieved at the verdict of the High Court. But we’re not frustrated.”

The BNP leader alleged that the present government clung to power ‘by force. He urged the government to hold fresh election to test its popularity.