Dhaka: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today said the next national election must be held under a supportive-government with the deployment of army to install a pro-people administration to end “public sufferings” and ensure good governance.
She also observed that people are celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr this time without any festivity and zeal due to the government’s misrule, repression and failure to arrest the soaring prices of essentials and deliver.
“Usually, Eid is celebrated amid huge festivity, but it’s completely missing this time all over the country. People are not in joyous mood for various incidents took place in the country this year, skyrocketing prices of rice, including coarse one, and other essentials, and hike in gas, power and water tariffs,” the BNP chief said.
Khaleda came up with the remarks while exchanging greetings with journalists at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre, marking the Eid-ul-Fitr.
She alleged that the government has destroyed the country and all of its institutions over its 10 years’ rule through corruption and plundering.
“People now want a change (in power) and expect better services and governance. But, Awami League has failed to deliver on all fronts, and it won’t be able to give people anything good in the future as well,” the BNP chief said.
She said a famine-like situation is prevailing in the country, especially in flood-hit haor regions and hillside-affected areas, for want of food and adequate government support.
“The government could have dropped food from helicopters for landslide-affected people in the remote areas of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, but they’re least bothered about people’s sufferings as they’re now busy siphoning off money they have made through corruption and looting,” she alleged.
Mentioning that people want a credible, inclusive and competitive election to be held in the country, the BNP chief said the election will not be fair and voters cannot go to polling stations if it is held under Awami League and Sheikh Hasina.
Referring to the attack on BNP secretary general’s motorcade on his way to Rangamati to visit hillslides-hit areas, Khaleda said, “Can you expect that a good election is possible under Sheikh Hasina even after such an attack on our leaders?”
She further said, “That’s why we’re demanding holding the election under a neutral and supportive government to enable the Election Commission to act neutrally. Alongside, the army will have to be deployed. We think a fair election will be possible and voters will be able go to polling stations and cast their votes without any intimidation and obstruction if army remains there. People also want it.”
The BNP chairperson urged the Awami League government to quit to save the country and its people, and ensure a neutral election. “We’ll have nothing to say if you return to power through fair and neutral polls.”
She said country’s all sectors, including education and health, are in a dire condition as ruling party men established their control on those. “People don’t get treatment and medicine from public hospitals.”
Khaleda said though the government is spreading propaganda of carrying out huge development in the country, all the highways, except Dhaka-Chittagong one, and roads across the country are in a bad shape, casing huge casualties over a few days.
She said the ruling party leaders and activists are getting richer while the common people poorer. “Inequality is widening alarmingly. I came to know from newspapers that a good number of people who made huge money through corruption went abroad for shopping while common people had not been able to buy new dresses for celebrating eid. The number of poor is increasing gradually.”
The BNP chief termed the budget for fiscal year 2017-18 the ‘worst’ one. “Even, their MPs and ministers hurled abusive towards the finance minister who is an elderly person. Is only the finance minister is responsible for it? He framed it as per the directives of a person (PM).”
She also criticised the government for imposing 15 percent VAT on people, saying common people are not in a position to bear it.
Earlier, the BNP chief also exchanged Eid greetings with eminent citizens, people from all walks of life and foreign diplomats.
Diplomats from around 20 countries, including the USA, the UK and the EU, and representatives of different international bodies attended the programmes.
Later, Khaleda went to the grave of her late husband and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and offered fateha there on the occasion. http://www.thedailystar.net/politics/polls-must-be-under-supportive-govt-army-deployment-khaleda-1425367
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