We're trying to save war heroes

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia addresses a rally at Mymensingh circuit house grounds yesterday. Photo Courtesy: BNP

Claiming her party and its allies as pro-Liberation War, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday alleged that the government wants to turn Bangladesh into another country's province manipulating the Liberation War sentiment.
“We are the pro-liberation force. How can we be anti-Liberation War when we are trying so much to protect the freedom fighters?” she said.
She also claimed that the government has given India a corridor in the name of transit.
“Though it [govt] claimed that Bangladesh will become another Singapore by allowing transit to India, the country would in fact become another Sikkim. My war is against this. If the people oppose, blessings of foreign countries will not be able to keep them [govt] in power forever,” she said while addressing a huge rally in Mymensingh Circuit House ground on the third BNP road march.
Khaleda, also the leader of the opposition in parliament, claimed that according to the businessmen, the country will lose at least Tk 30,000 crore due to the transit. She, however, did not elaborate on the loss. She said, “We want to know how much the country made from transit till now.”
She also warned the government not to threaten her with sedition cases. She said sedition cases should also be filed against those who ordered to kill people with sticks and oars and are serving other country's interest.”
The BNP chief yesterday once again demanded release of all arrested leaders of BNP and Jamaat. This time she mentioned the name of former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar along with a few other BNP leaders but not the names of any Jamaat leaders.
On October 19, she had demanded release of Jamaat leaders Motiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury. She claimed that they did not commit crimes during the Liberation War in 1971.
In yesterday's rally, Khaleda said after the completion of her road marches, tougher agitation programme will be announced to make the government quit power.
“I call for a war to save the country from foreign dominance. We are committed to uphold the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh at any cost,” she said, adding that her war is against those who want to give away everything to other countries.
Khaleda also reiterated that no election will be held in the country under a political government. She said elections must be held under a non-party caretaker government and Awami league will participate in it. But before that a neutral Election Commission must be constituted in consultation with all.
She pledged that Mymensingh will be declared a division and the Ananda Mohan College will be turned into a public university if her party is voted to power the next time.
Terming the communications minister the centre of corruption, Khaleda said the country will not be safe if the present government remains in office. “The Padma Bridge project has been suspended due to the corruption of the present government. The previous BNP-led government did not initiate the project.”
Recently at a rally in Patgram, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina claimed that she has a World Bank document that says the corruption of BNP government was the reason behind the suspension of fund for the bridge project.
The opposition leader yesterday censured the government for its failure in running the country and fulfilling its electoral pledges. She said the government could not do anything for the country in the last three years, except for looting and destroying the capital market and the young generation.
Referring to Khandaker Moshtaque's oath taking ceremony after the killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, she said Awami League always backed unconstitutional governments.
“The government is now releasing their party men and arresting the opposition workers. The have withdrawn 7,500 cases against their men and filing cases against ours,” alleged Khaleda.
Thousands of enthusiastic leaders, workers and supporters attended the BNP rally yesterday turning the circuit house ground a sea of people. Mymensingh, also known as the city of education, turned into a city of procession.
AKM Mosharraf Hossain, president of Mymensingh district (south) BNP, presided over the meeting. LDP President Oli Ahmad, BJP President Andaleeve Rahman Partha, BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, among others, addressed the rally.
On October 10-11, Khaleda led a road march towards Sylhet and organised another towards Chapainawabganj on October 18, 19. BNP scheduled a road march towards Chittagong on October 25-26 but it was postponed due to hajj and Eid-ul-Azha.
On September 27, Khaleda declared three road marches towards Sylhet, Rajshahi and Chittaogng to drum up public opinion to realise her demand to revive the caretaker government system. Later Rajshahi programme was replaced with the one in Chapainawabganj.