Movement soon to oust govt
The BNP and its allies will soon launch a movement to oust the government, as it didn't pay heed to their “peaceful” call for having dialogue on how to hold a free, fair and inclusive election under a non-party administration, Khaleda Zia said yesterday.
“One year has already passed, and the condition of people as well as the country is getting worse. We have been pushed to the wall. We will take to the streets taking people with us to face the government,” said the BNP chairperson.
Khaleda was speaking at a programme organised by Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, a pro-BNP platform of freedom fighters, at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the capital.
“People want a movement … they want a change to get back their voting rights. They want to establish people's government by casting ballots.
“This autocratic and illegal government will be blown away like a house of cards, Inshallah … Our victory is certain,” she said.
At the beginning of her hour-long speech, Khaleda expressed her gratitude to India and other countries that helped and supported Bangladesh in its struggle for independence.
Without naming any political party, Khaleda said a particular party has been publicising “concocted history” of the Liberation War.
The BNP chief apparently supported her elder son Tarique Rahman's scathing attack on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Last week, Tarique, senior vice-chairman of the BNP, termed Bangabandhu a “big Razakar” who, according to him, wanted to be the prime minister of undivided Pakistan, and didn't want Bangladesh's independence.
At yesterday's programme, Khaleda said, “If anyone makes comments based on documents or takes the initiative to correct those partial and distorted versions of the country's history, that particular party uses abusive language and issues threats instead of giving reply.”
The reason is that the party's role in the Liberation War is now in question. It had failed to discharge its responsibilities when the nation was in crisis, she claimed.
They [the party] didn't fight risking their lives in the battlefield during the war. Instead, they took shelter in India, said Khaleda.
“They were concerned more about themselves and their families than the country's liberation and the people.
“That is why they want to hide their weakness and failure taking advantage of people's emotions.”
The party always claims that it had organised and led the Liberation War. But the speeches and writings of the party's followers have proved how unrealistic those claims are.
“They don't hesitate to label war heroes as Razakars or agents of Pakistan if anyone says anything different from their versions of history,” said the BNP chief.
“I want to say that it will not be possible to change the facts of history by hurling abusive words or making threats. History will take its own course.”
Everyone knows that the then biggest political party [Awami League] tried to reach an agreement with Pakistani military ruler Yahya Khan till March 23, 1971 over handover of power.
They were busy resolving the stalemate over the framing of Pakistan's constitution, said Khaleda.
“They [that party] didn't make any move towards achieving independence though they knew that soldiers and ammunition were being brought under the guise of talks.”
They turned down a proposal from Bangalee army officers for proclaiming the country's independence, claimed Khaleda.
“So, they couldn't announce any programme other than calling hartals in protest against the killing of unarmed people.”
They had no alternative but to flee or surrender [to the Pakistani forces] in the face of attacks, she said.
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