This 'illegal' govt cannot place budget: Khaleda
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today said the “illegal” government cannot place budget in the “illegal” parliament.
“As there are no people’s representatives in the parliament, the government cannot place the budget before it,” Khaleda said at a protest rally organised by pro-BNP lawyers at the Jatiya Press Club.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. The former premier warned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that she will have to bear a dare consequence if her administration delays to hold a fresh election under a non-partisan caretaker government.
“No one will be able to control the situation,” she said.
Criticising the government for obstructing lawyers from holding a rally on the Supreme Court premises, Khaleda said it is patronising the law enforcers in committing crimes to stay in power.
At the rally, Khaleda demanded that no law enforcing agency including Rapid Action Battalion will not carry out any drive to arrest any people at night.
And no one should be arrested without warrant and presence of any magistrate, she said.
She reiterated her demanded to disband Rab saying that the Rab men have now become hired criminals and committing crimes like killings and forced disappearance.
Initially Rab was tasked with nothing but to check militancy and crimes that increased during the Awami League tenure from 1996, she said.
“We never used Rab for political purpose but the incumbent government is patronising Rab to abduct and kill political foes,” she added.
Sheikh Hasina will not be able to stay in power for life long, she said adding, “You (Hasina) must be brought to book and interrogated on all your misdeeds.”
If four cases against me continue, the trial proceedings of 15 lawsuits against Hasina must be re-launched, she said adding, “Cases against Hasina cannot be withdrawn as she became the prime minister”
Regarding the gruesome seven-murder in Narayanganj, Khaleda reacted, “None of the prime accused has so far been arrested as they were sent abroad.”
“And those who are arrested have been enjoying cordial reception in jail,” she added.
Supreme Court Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Samity, a pro-BNP lawyers' organisation, organised the rally at the press club protesting police action on the pro-BNP lawyers in Mazar Gate area near the Supreme Court this morning.
The Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Samity was to hold a rally on the apex court's premises at 10:00am protesting abduction and killing of seven-murder in Narayanganj and demanding justice and establishment of rule of law in the country.
But police foiled the programme and detained at least 29 pro-BNP lawyers and an assistant of a lawyer this morning for their attempt to enter the court defying a police obstruction.
Former Dhaka Bar Association General Secretary Khorshed Alam is among the detainees, said Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) General Secretary AM Mahabub Uddin Kokhon.
Of the detainees, 17 were taken to Ramna Police Station, said Mashiur Rahman, officer-in-charge of the police station.
Others were taken to Shahbagh Police Station, police said.
The law enforcers also put up barbed wire barricades at Mazar Gate since morning to bar the lawyers.
Some 30 to 40 lawyers, who were on the venue since last night, staged demonstration for one and a half hours since 10:00am but no journalists can reached the spot as all the three gates of the SC remained shut.
The law enforcers obstructed the lawyers from entering the court premise saying that the BNP's lawyers did not seek permission from SC authorities. There is a High Court order on not holding rallies on the Supreme Court premises, police said.
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