None killed, forcibly disappeared

Rejecting BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's allegation that around 300 people were killed or made to disappear in joint force's operation before and after the January 5 polls, the ruling Awami League yesterday claimed that none had been killed or made to disappear.
Khaleda brought the allegation at a press conference on Tuesday claiming that the government had turned the law enforcement agencies into killing forces.
Yesterday, AL presidium member and Health Minister Mohammad Nasim told reporters, "None was killed and no incident of disappearance has taken place. The law enforcers were arresting terrorists and bringing them to book, nothing more."
In the press conference held at party chief Sheikh Hasina's Dhanmondi office, Nasim termed Khaleda's remarks baseless and false. He said the joint force takes steps in accordance with the law.
"Power sometimes needs to be exercised to restore peace and that is what the government has done," he said, adding that peace had returned to the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Another AL presidium member and Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said the country's media was watching everything and it was impossible that several hundred people had been killed and the media missed it.
She alleged that Khaleda wanted to foil the elections and bring misery to the people by outsourcing criminals.
"But she failed. The election was held freely and fairly and the Awami League formed government with people's mandate," said Matia.
She censured the BNP leadership for announcing movement through "video calls". She called Khaleda "Lady Laden" and her son Tarique Rahman "Junior Laden".
Meanwhile, in response to BNP chairperson's call to the government for immediate talks to hold another national election, Nasim said: "Wait for five years. The polls will be held under Sheikh Hasina as per the constitution. We are giving Khaleda the time to reorganise her party and prepare for the election. Even if they [BNP-led alliance] want to launch a movement, they should do it after getting reorganised."