Country under ‘monarchic’ rule: Khaleda

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has alleged that monarchy has been established in Bangladesh obliterating democracy.

“The people of Bangladesh are not at all in peace now, as repression and harassment are crossing the tolerable limit,” she said at a civic meeting in London.

The BNP chief further said, “There’s no good governance in Bangladesh. A monarchy has been established in Bangladesh and a lady Hitler is operating this monarchy. Her administration follows what is dictated to them. No one else’s orders are followed there and everything is done as per her will.”

BNP’s UK chapter arranged the meeting at a hotel in London on Sunday evening (local time). This was the first formal meeting of Khaleda during her stay in London from September 16, according to a message received today.

As the meeting was in progress, leaders and activists of the UK chapter of Awami League staged a demonstration in front of the hotel holding banners and placards against the BNP chief.

Khaleda, a former prime minister, said she will return home soon to make her party ready for continuing the anti-government movement after revamping the party.

“I need to return home urgently to complete the leftover tasks. They (family members) are not willing to let me go home now as I’ve met them after a long time,” Khaleda said adding that she is now quite well.

The BNP chief emphasised on forming a national unity to get rid of Awami League’s rule and restore democracy. “I’ve fought a lot for democracy. Now restoration of democracy is my main aim,” she added.

She alleged that the country’s law and order situation is now the worst in the country’s history.

Referring to the growing untoward incidents in the country, the BNP chief said these incidents are happening for the lack of democracy. “But, BNP is being blamed for every bad thing.”

Accusing Awami League of taking vengeance, Khaleda said the ruling party must shun such bad practice of accusations to restore peace and democracy in the country.

She also blamed the AL-led government for the emergence of militancy in the country. “Why did Hasina utter militancy? Did she do it to frighten the foreigners?”

The former prime minister went on saying, “Militancy had emerged during the Awami League rule and they didn’t arrest any militants. But after assuming office, we arrested all of them.”

Khaleda obliquely blamed her party’s Dhaka City unit’s failure to wage a strong movement in the capital for making their oust-government movement a success.

The BNP chief also alleged that the government is trying to destroy her party to cling to power. “It won’t be possible to split BNP,” she asserted.