Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Khaleda Zia has threatened to topple the government through mass upsurge.
Published : 29 Mar 2014, 04:52 PM
The former prime minister criticised the government's record-breaking initiative of singing the national anthem in chorus at a meeting of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists' (BFUJ) faction on Saturday.
"Singing the national anthem by spending a hundred crore taka will be of no use. The event was organised by bringing busloads of people by spending money. A Guinness record can't be made like that," said Khaleda.
The BNP chief warned of a popular movement to overthrow the government, which came to power through the controversial Jan 5 elections.
"We will launch a movement, where we don’t have to spend money to bring people. That mass upsurge will itself create a Guinness record," Khaleda said.
She also announced of a fresh movement for national poll under a non-party government after Mar 31, when the final phase of the Upazila Parishad elections end.
“Democracy is now dead. No law and order or human rights exist. A country can’t go on like this. Our movement will start soon after the end of Upazila elections on Mar 31,” she said.
She claimed the government and the present Parliament, being ‘devoid of representation’, were wasting the people’s money.
“Resign right away and make way for fair polls under a non-party government,” said Khaleda.
BNP has been demanding interim polls but leaders of the ruling Awami League have ruled out possibility of any such poll before the end of their five-year tenure.
Khaleda reiterated that Awami League never allowed fair elections to take place.
“Apart from the people of Bangladesh even foreigners have the similar view,” said the BNP chief. “That is why foreigners said a proper poll should be arranged with the help of discussions.”
“This can no longer be delayed.”
She said she is willing to accept defeat once a fair and participatory election is held.