What a miffed Khaleda said

Police did not let BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia leave her home at Dhaka’s Gulshan to join her party's proposed rally at Naya Paltan on Sunday.

The BNP had said the rally would be held 'at any cost' to thwart the Jan 5 parliament election.

As she failed to get past the policemen who had thrown a protective ring round her house, the Opposition Leader admonished the law-keepers and spoke to journalists who had climbed the boundary wall into her compound using ladders and pipes.

bdnews24.com presents for its readers the transcript of the 10-minute conversation that Khaleda had with the policemen and the journalists.

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Situation is very dangerous. This government … is torturing the journalists… torturing mothers and sisters.

We love and feel for the country, the people. So we cannot shoot people dead. But the way you (meaning police) are killing, you will have to answer for this.

…you (police) will come every day, and sit in front of the gate. That is fine. I will also come out every day like this. Let’s see how many days this continues.

What do you think? The country belongs to you only? Is it the ancestral property of the Awami League, that goons can be used to stop our programme (Rally)? Stop our programme by using police!

I dare you (Awami League) to launch counter programmes. (You are) not brave, not even 10 people join you. They hire people and use DCs, SPs to bring people. I understand that. If not, would the situation be so pathetic? 154 seats go uncontested? What’s left (of the polls)? They will also bag the other seats without contest.

… this was no election, that this was a selection and an election involving sharing of booty. It is clear to the people of the country.

That’s why people are so critical today. We also slam this government. Shame on this government.

What are you doing today? We don’t have any conflict with you (police). You are performing your duties but I think you should carry out the responsibility nicely. You perform your duty in a good way so that we can do our job with dignity and you can do yours. We don’t have any conflict with you.

(You are) the police force, but it’s not fair that you won’t allow me to go out from my house. This is not right. It’s not right.

Where is that officer of yours who was here? I wanted to talk to him, why my way is blocked? But where is he? Why he is not coming in front of me now?

You said so much until now. Who are you? Why are you silent now? Hey you, woman, why are you silent now? Say what you have been saying until now?

Why are you mum now? Where are you from, ‘Gopali’ (from Gopalganj)? Will change the name of Gopalganj, understand? Gopalganj will not exist any longer.

You will incur the wrath of Allah for what you have started. How many Alems and orphans you have killed? How many BDR officers have you killed? Where was Hasina then? Where was Hasina that day?

Where was this force of Hasina when so many officers were killed, 57 (army) officers were killed? Why didn't she send the force? Because she herself was involved in those murders. That’s why.

Many unknown faces can be seen nowadays, we are not sure who is a Bangladeshi. If you love the country ... our rally today was to protect the country's sovereignty ... we wanted to march for democracy.

You don’t want democracy, don’t want to save the country. Want to be the servant? Be a broker? This will not last. Read the history of Lhendup Dorjee (Kazi Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa was the first Chief Minister of Sikkim). He did not stay very long. He was ousted. You can survive as a lackey by selling the country… Hasina won’t be allowed to sell the country.

The country will be saved. Tell them to stop being a lackey. There is nothing Hasina gains by being a lackey. Be with the people of Bangladesh. Be with the people. Be with the countrymen. Then the country will be saved, people will be saved.

It’s everyone’s duty now – to protect the country, protect the people. And now you are entering people’s house and killing them. You think you can get away with this? The tears of mothers, sisters, orphans, the tears of the wives of those BDR officers… will these go in vain? They will never go in vain.

Those who are oppressing now will become blind one day because they will have to wipe their own tears ceaselessly.

There is still time. Stop pushing around. None of us is here to be shoved around. We are not here for pushing and shoving. I’m saying, you will do your job. But that doesn’t mean you will get on to us so brazenly.

Stay away. Stay away. Stay at the spot where you are supposed to be. You are supposed to stay on the street. Why are you getting inside the house?

Why do your (police) girls argue so much?

Hey girls – shut up. How long you have been on this job that you are talking so much?

Why you are talking too much? Shut up. You have no discipline.

Where's that officer of yours? He’s not coming? Tell him to meet me, I want to talk to him.

Understand? Didn’t you get me? I am speaking in Bangla. Or do you prefer I speak in another language?

Understand? Where is that officer? Tell him to meet with me.