Awami League terms Khaleda's speech a 'blatant verbal attack' on Hasina

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has said the speech by BNP chief Khaleda Zia at Suhrawardy Udyan is nothing but a blatant verbal attack on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"Her speech is an openly expressed rant against Sheikh Hasina. The elections will be held under the supervision of the Election Commission," he said adding "like other countries in the world, the government will help (Election Commission) in organising a free and fair election."

Quader gave the ruling party's reaction to Khaleda's speech at the Dhanmondi office of the party chief Hasina on Sunday evening, hours after Khaleda's speech at the BNP rally in Dhaka.

He also rejected BNP's call for a government 'that can facilitate fair election' during the next parliamentary polls.

Earlier in the afternoon, the BNP chief at her speech categorically said her party would not take in the general elections under the government headed by Hasina.

Khaleda also demanded the deployment of the army during the elections and opposition against the government plan to use electronic voting machine in polls.

Quader told the group of journalists, "You see, they don't want the latest technology. She wants the elections of 2001 to be replicated." 

Regarding the deployment of troops, he snapped back at the BNP. "In which elections you gave army magistracy power when you were in power?"  

He, however, said the ruling party had no objection to army deployment if it is done as part of the electoral procedure.

"It's not politics, it's a drama she is staging to get power," Quader said."The testimony of the BNP rule is August 21 attack to kill Sheikh Hasina."