Khaleda Zia is now begging the US to help her return to power, Syed Ashraful Islam has said after the BNP chief’s meeting with Nisha Desai Biswal.
Published : 29 Nov 2014, 09:04 PM
The Awami League general secretary, however, said the government will not leave office before running its term no matter how much Khaleda ‘lobbies with the US’.
He was addressing a party programme at the Khulna Circuit House grounds on Saturday afternoon.
About US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Biswal, Ashraf said she was a ‘petty’ minister.
He said Khaleda now was begging US President Barack Obama's point person for south and central Asia Biswal for help.
"Biswal met her twice. There won't be any good no matter how many times you meet her," the LGRD and cooperatives minister said, taking a dig at the BNP chief.
He also asked Khaleda to prepare for the next general election.
"US Ambassador Dan Mozena tried to thwart the Jan 5 polls. He tried his best to prevent Sheikh Hasina from becoming the prime minister," Ashraf, spokesperson for the ruling party, alleged.
The BNP-led alliance had boycotted the polls demanding a neutral government's supervision in the polls and has since been demanding a snap election.
The US said they did not find the election "credible" and called for a fresh one contested by all parties.
US Assistant Secretary Biswal came to Bangladesh for the first time in November last year and pitched for a political dialogue over the polls-time dispensation.
She was here on her second trip in a year’s time after attending the SAARC Summit in Kathmandu where she represented the US as an observer.
She met with Khaleda, Opposition Leader Raushon Ershad, Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, RMG sector bigwigs including labour activists and representatives of the civil society.
During their meeting on Friday, Khaleda sought ‘continued cooperation’ of the US to strengthen democratic process in Bangladesh and her South Asian neighbours, party leaders said.
Biswal told a press briefing on Saturday at the end of her three-day visit that the people of Bangladesh would decide time for the next election.
She, however, skirted a direct reply to a question on the latest US position on the Jan 5 national election.
Khaleda on Saturday announced that her party would start anti-government agitation to force the government out.
At a separate programme in Bhola, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed claimed the BNP wanted to destabilise the country.
He said the next election would be organised 90 days before Jan 29, 2019.
"They (the BNP) are dubbing the government unelected and illegal as they don't believe in the Constitution," Ahmed alleged.