Govt staged ‘judicial coup’

Claims Khaleda

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday said the government staged a ‘judicial coup’ by “sending former chief justice SK Sinha abroad and forcing him to resign”. The BNP chief also said that those who are raising their voice against teh government are being ‘subjected to killings, enforced disappearances, and repressive acts’. She also claimed that the country is being run by a ‘single person’ and called upon her party leaders and activists to get ready for the next general elections as well as to prepare for a movement to restore democracy and the voting rights of people.

“You have to get ready for whichever programme you are given in the coming days. You have to prepare for a movement to restore democracy and the elections,” she said while addressing a rally of freedom fighters in the city.

Khaleda also alleged that the AL has snatched the democratic rights of the people and is running the country in the “Pakistani style” (referring to the pre-independence days).

She said that the country is being shackled by the Awami League (AL)-led government and called upon the people, including the freedom fighters, to rise once again to free the country.

The BNP chairperson called upon the freedom fighters to raise their voice against the misdeeds of the government and help the country restore democracy, which, she said, was the aim of the War of Liberation.

The former premier also called upon other political parties to join hands and lodge a protest against the misdeeds of the government.

“I call upon the other political parties to unite and lodge a protest against the misdeeds of the government, launch a struggle to establish democracy, and establish a pro-people government though a free and fair election,” she said.

Khaleda reiterated her call for the government to hold the next general elections under a neutral administration, saying that no election will be allowed under the present government and while the present Parliament is active.

“The next elections must be held under a neutral government, after dissolving Parliament,” she added.

The Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, a pro-BNP freedom fighters’ platform, organised the rally at Mohanagar Natya Mancha in the city to mark its annual general meeting.

During the working session, Istiaque Aziz Ulfat and Sadeq Ahmed Khan were re-elected as the president and the general secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, the front organization of the BNP, respectively.

During her 35-minute speech, Khaleda slammed the government for its “misdeeds” and said there would be no fair election in the country as long as Sheikh Hasina is in power.

She accused the present government of violating the Constitution by electing 154 lawmakers unopposed.

“How can a government raise the question of violation of the Constitution when it is continuously violating the charter itself?” she wondered. “It is everybody’s demand that the next election be held under a neutral government. There will be no fair election while Hasina is in power,” she said.

Khaleda alleged that there are no fundamental rights, rule of law, and even the right to hold a rally in the country. She added that the government is practising a “one-party rule”.

Khaleda also accused the government of killing people and planning enforced disappearances if anyone speaks out against its “misdeeds”.

Criticising the government for giving permission to hold the rally at the last moment, Khaleda questioned whether the system can still be treated as a democracy.

Khaleda alleged that former chief justice SK Sinha was forced to go abroad and resign simply because he had expressed concerns about the controlling of the judiciary and made certain observations about the legitimacy of the 154 MPs who were elected unopposed.

She reminded the audience that the AL could not come to power in the 2001 elections for its misdeeds. But the present situation is thrice as severe as that during their rule from 1996 to 2001, she claimed. She alleged that the government wants to keep people silent despite its misdeeds. Khaleda also focused on the failure of the government in different sectors, including controlling the prices of essential commodities.

She promised the people that if the BNP is voted to power, it would involve the youth in building a modern Bangladesh and provide fertilisers, insecticides, and seeds at a lower price. Presided over by Istiaque Aziz Ulfat, the rally was also addressed by BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moin Khan, Liberal Democratic Party chief Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, Kalyan Party chief Gen. (retd) Muhammed Ibrahim, Abdullah Al Noman, and Lt Col (retd) Joynul Abedin, among others.

Govt staged judicial coup

Claims Khaleda

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday said the government staged a judicial coup by sending former chief justice SK Sinha abroad and forcing him to resign. The BNP chief also said that those who are raising their voice against teh government are being subjected to killings, enforced disappearances, and repressive acts. She also claimed that the country is being run by a single person and called upon her party leaders and activists to get ready for the next general elections as well as to prepare for a movement to restore democracy and the voting rights of people. You have to get ready for whichever programme you are given in the coming days. You have to prepare for a movement to restore democracy and the elections, she said while addressing a rally of freedom fighters in the city. Khaleda also alleged that the AL has snatched the democratic rights of the people and is running the country in the Pakistani style (referring to the pre-independence days). She said that the country is being shackled by the Awami League (AL)-led government and called upon the people, including the freedom fighters, to rise once again to free the country. The BNP chairperson called upon the freedom fighters to raise their voice against the misdeeds of the government and help the country restore democracy, which, she said, was the aim of the War of Liberation. The former premier also called upon other political parties to join hands and lodge a protest against the misdeeds of the government. I call upon the other political parties to unite and lodge a protest against the misdeeds of the government, launch a struggle to establish democracy, and establish a pro-people government though a free and fair election, she said. Khaleda reiterated her call for the government to hold the next general elections under a neutral administration, saying that no election will be allowed under the present government and while the present Parliament is active. The next elections must be held under a neutral government, after dissolving Parliament, she added. The Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, a pro-BNP freedom fighters platform, organised the rally at Mohanagar Natya Mancha in the city to mark its annual general meeting. During the working session, Istiaque Aziz Ulfat and Sadeq Ahmed Khan were re-elected as the president and the general secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, the front organization of the BNP, respectively. During her 35-minute speech, Khaleda slammed the government for its misdeeds and said there would be no fair election in the country as long as Sheikh Hasina is in power. She accused the present government of violating the Constitution by electing 154 lawmakers unopposed. How can a government raise the question of violation of the Constitution when it is continuously violating the charter itself? she wondered. It is everybodys demand that the next election be held under a neutral government. There will be no fair election while Hasina is in power, she said. Khaleda alleged that there are no fundamental rights, rule of law, and even the right to hold a rally in the country. She added that the government is practising a one-party rule. Khaleda also accused the government of killing people and planning enforced disappearances if anyone speaks out against its misdeeds. Criticising the government for giving permission to hold the rally at the last moment, Khaleda questioned whether the system can still be treated as a democracy. Khaleda alleged that former chief justice SK Sinha was forced to go abroad and resign simply because he had expressed concerns about the controlling of the judiciary and made certain observations about the legitimacy of the 154 MPs who were elected unopposed. She reminded the audience that the AL could not come to power in the 2001 elections for its misdeeds. But the present situation is thrice as severe as that during their rule from 1996 to 2001, she claimed. She alleged that the government wants to keep people silent despite its misdeeds. Khaleda also focused on the failure of the government in different sectors, including controlling the prices of essential commodities. She promised the people that if the BNP is voted to power, it would involve the youth in building a modern Bangladesh and provide fertilisers, insecticides, and seeds at a lower price. Presided over by Istiaque Aziz Ulfat, the rally was also addressed by BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moin Khan, Liberal Democratic Party chief Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, Kalyan Party chief Gen. (retd) Muhammed Ibrahim, Abdullah Al Noman, and Lt Col (retd) Joynul Abedin, among others.