It was a plot to foil rally

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, inset, addresses a rally in Sirajganj called by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal yesterday. Photo: Focus Bangla

BNP Chairperson and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia has put the blame of Sirajganj train incident on the government saying it was a conspiracy hatched to foil her rally.
Addressing a student-mass rally in Sirajganj, where the train accident occurred, she urged all to be prepared for a movement. She also said bloodshed might occur during the movement, but the "autocratic" government must be ousted.
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal organised the rally yesterday to mark the Shaheed Jihad Day. Top-ranked BNP and JCD leaders attended the rally chaired by JCD President Sultan Salauddin Tuku.
Bearing portraits of late president Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, thousands of opposition leaders, workers and supporters from across the region started gathering at the venue since afternoon.
Khaleda told the rally they had ousted the autocratic government of Ershad and another "autocratic" government has to be ousted through a tougher movement.
She called upon the people to take preparations for the movement. She said BNP will announce systematic and democratic programmes against "illegal" activities of the government.
"You people have to take part in the movement considering the future of the country," she said, adding, "The corrupt government that often files cases need to be ousted through a tougher movement."
Describing development of the country during the last BNP-Jamaat alliance rule, Khaleda said people saw massive development in every sector under her government.
She blasted the last caretaker rule and said the present government came to power through an election that was staged following a conspiracy hatched by the AL and the caretaker government.
She alleged the pro-government people involved themselves in various criminal activities including killing, tender manipulation and extortion.
Referring Justice Habibur Rahman's recent remark, Khaleda said gamblers are now running the country and no development will come until they are ousted.
She also came down heavily on the activities of pro-government youth organisations -- Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jubo League.
The BNP chief said the government has completely "failed" to fulfil its electoral pledges and is engaged in a conspiracy to make Bangladesh a failed country.
On the recent incident between pro-government people and the local administration in Pabna, Khaleda said the government officials are also suffering the repression of pro-government people.
She warned government officials of action in case of injustice to the opposition and urged them not to carry out "illegal" orders of the government.
Hinting at the agreements between Bangladesh and India, the opposition leader said no contracts which ruin the country's interests will be accepted.
She said people from top to bottom of the government are now busy earning money.
Khaleda said the pro-government people have killed a leader of her party in Natore using logi and boitha like they did earlier on October 28, 2006.
About the government's initiative to award work without tender to produce electricity quickly, she said nobody will be spared if the work is given without tender.
She also urged the government to award subsidy to farmers and weavers.
GAYEBANA JANAZA TODAY
Khaleda Zia in a condolence message demanded a neutral probe into the Sirajganj train accident.
The BNP chair claimed the incident injured more than 100 leaders and activists of the party. She demanded the authorities concerned take proper steps for the treatment of the injured.
In the message, Khaleda expressed shock at the deaths, sympathised with the bereaved families and prayed for the peace of the departed souls.
BNP Secretary General Khandker Delwar Hossain, in a separate message, demanded unearthing the mystery behind the accident and exemplary punishment to the persons responsible.
The main opposition will arrange a gayebana janaza in front of its central office in the capital after today's johr prayer.
After the janaza, Delwar will announce the party's next course of action.