Khaleda asks BNP supporters to shun anarchy, face challenges peacefully

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has called upon leaders and activists to eschew chaos, anarchy and tackle situations peacefully.

Khaleda made the call at a discussion in Dhaka on Thursday to mark the party's 38th founding anniversary.

She termed the BNP a 'progressive' party and said she believed Bangladesh would become a developed country some day.

"We will move ahead by tackling everything peacefully with patience and courage by following orders, not by anarchy and disorder."

The former prime minister appealed for unity between the senior and junior activists to 'restore democracy'.

Khaleda's husband, former military ruler Ziaur Rahman founded the BNP on this day in 1978.

She said a huge number of juniors have been given leadership roles and urged them to follow Zia's ideals.

The BNP's observation of the day started with hoisting the national and party flags at its headquarters in Naya Paltan early in the morning.

Khaleda and other leaders of the party laid wreaths on Zia's grave later.

At the discussion in the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, Khaleda once again questioned killings of suspected militants in police raids.
 
"Why are they being shot dead?" she asked.
 
"There are laws, courts. Police will question them (suspects) and take them to court if necessary. But they shoot (suspects) dead. Why? There must be some mystery about it," she said.
 
The BNP supremo alleged militancy rose during the Awami League's tenure after the 1996 elections.
 
"They (Awami League) did not arrest or try any militant over the (attacks) at the time. We arrested militants when the BNP came to power. 
 
“We banned Harkat-ul-Jihad and JMB (Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh). Their top leaders like Bangla Bhai and Shaykh Abdur Rahman were caught alive and punished," she said.
 
The BNP chief renewed her demand to cancel the power plant project in Bagerhat's Rampal near the Sundarbans, taken up in partnership with India.
 
"The Rampal project will destroy our world heritage site," she said.
 
The three-time former prime minister said she was not opposed to building power plants in any way. "But the power plant can be set up in another place." 
 
Khaleda said the Indian government itself had stopped a power plant project following protests, while the Awami League government was not safeguarding the Bangladesh's interest.
 
"We (BNP) will protect the country's interests by maintaining good relations with the others...We are not for selling everything backdoor by capturing power," she said.