BNP hits back at Hasina

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's recent remarks on Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman were devoid of political etiquette.

Hasina said on Monday that the re-election of Khaleda and Tarique as BNP chairperson and senior vice chairman was a staged drama and two accused were now BNP's top leaders.

Slamming the Awami League chief, Fakhrul said, "If we assess the country's history, we'll see cases filed against political leaders during every democratic movement.... So it is clear what was said about the BNP chairperson and senior vice chairman lacks political norms…we strongly condemn such comments."

The BNP leader criticised Hasina as he spoke before Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal, which brought out a march in front of BNP Nayapaltan central office, marking International Women's Day. Khaleda and Tarique were re-elected to their previous posts unopposed on Sunday, ahead of BNP's national council, scheduled for March 19.

Fakhrul said the country did not have democracy and there were no rights of people now.

He voiced concern over the growing number of child killings and repression of women.

The number of child killings and incidents of violence against women that occurred in the last one year has "broken all previous records", the BNP leader claimed.