Khalada calls for unity without delay

Strongly denouncing the Gulshan terror attack, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday called upon all, irrespective of party and opinion, for forging unity against terrorism without further delay. “Let’s build a peaceful, democratic and safe Bangladesh by forging an anti-terrorism unity forgetting all divisions among us,” Khaleda told a press briefing at her Gulshan office after a meeting of her party’s standing committee. “It’s no longer a big issue who will be there in power. Now the country and the nation are at stake. No achievement will sustain if we can’t resist terrorism and ensure safety of people’s lives,” she added. At least 28 people, including 20 foreigners and Bangladeshis, six attackers and two senior police officials were killed as terrorists attacked Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant in the city’s Gulshan diplomatic zone on Friday night. Voicing her anger over the attack, Khaleda said she cannot summon words to condemn the incident. “We’re deeply shocked and aggrieved. The killing of peace-loving and innocent people in any pretext is not a sign of soundness. We express our strong hatred towards this perversion.”
She said no person of conscience can accept such cowardice attack and killing of innocent people. “It’s not possible to achieve anything by resorting to such illogical, cruel, imprudent and wrong path.” Mentioning that no religion and ideology supports ‘mindless terrorist acts’, the BNP chief said Islam as a peace-loving religion and it is deadly against terrorism and killing of innocent people. Khaleda said the peace-loving people of Bangladesh and the world community are concerned over the incident as it has exposed the country’s security weakness and faults as well as the terrorists’ capability. The BNP chief noted with concern that the demon of terrorism is silently growing and attacking the nation through heinous killings. She deplored that the government has pushed the country towards an alarming situation by denying the fact of the emergence of extremists. “It’s much harder to tackle and suppress invisible enemies than visible ones.”
Khaleda highly praised the Army-led commando operation to put an end to the Gulshan restaurant hostage crisis by killing the terrorists and rescuing 13 foreigners and Bangladeshis. “I would like to thank the Army for proving once again their ability and necessity to face such a crisis in national life,” she said. Besides, the BNP chief expressed her gratitude to the members of Naval and Air Forces, Police, Rab, BGB, firefighters, intelligence and other law enforcement agencies who tackled the terrorist attack with immense courage risking their lives.
She expressed her deep shock at the death of 28 people in the incident and prayed for the eternal peace of their departed souls.
Khaleda thanked the friendly countries that expressed their sympathies and assured of their assistance to face extremism and terrorism. “I hope they’ll continue their all possible cooperation showing respect to our state sovereignty in facing terrorism.”
Stating that coordinated efforts are necessary to tackle extremism, she said the country’s current terrorism is not merely a law-and-order problem. “It won’t be possible to solve the problem only carrying out drives by law enforcers.” She warned that the crisis will deepen further if the government uses anti-terrorism programmes as tools to subdue its political opponents. No one is now safe in the country following the continued attacks on people of all faiths and opinions, the BNP chief said, “We must stop such killings and bloodsheds. We must get united and make people united.”
Khaleda also alleged that terrorism is spreading gradually in the country for the absence of democracy and the rule of law, and persisting autocratic rule, political intolerance, repressive acts and economic deprivation. “I think it’s not possible to overcome the current crisis without participation of people. Only democratic environment can ensure people’s involvement (in anti-terrorism efforts),” she observed. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee members were present at the press conference.

Khalada calls for unity without delay

Strongly denouncing the Gulshan terror attack, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday called upon all, irrespective of party and opinion, for forging unity against terrorism without further delay. Lets build a peaceful, democratic and safe Bangladesh by forging an anti-terrorism unity forgetting all divisions among us, Khaleda told a press briefing at her Gulshan office after a meeting of her partys standing committee. Its no longer a big issue who will be there in power. Now the country and the nation are at stake. No achievement will sustain if we cant resist terrorism and ensure safety of peoples lives, she added. At least 28 people, including 20 foreigners and Bangladeshis, six attackers and two senior police officials were killed as terrorists attacked Holey Artisan Bakery restaurant in the citys Gulshan diplomatic zone on Friday night. Voicing her anger over the attack, Khaleda said she cannot summon words to condemn the incident. Were deeply shocked and aggrieved. The killing of peace-loving and innocent people in any pretext is not a sign of soundness. We express our strong hatred towards this perversion. She said no person of conscience can accept such cowardice attack and killing of innocent people. Its not possible to achieve anything by resorting to such illogical, cruel, imprudent and wrong path. Mentioning that no religion and ideology supports mindless terrorist acts, the BNP chief said Islam as a peace-loving religion and it is deadly against terrorism and killing of innocent people. Khaleda said the peace-loving people of Bangladesh and the world community are concerned over the incident as it has exposed the countrys security weakness and faults as well as the terrorists capability. The BNP chief noted with concern that the demon of terrorism is silently growing and attacking the nation through heinous killings. She deplored that the government has pushed the country towards an alarming situation by denying the fact of the emergence of extremists. Its much harder to tackle and suppress invisible enemies than visible ones. Khaleda highly praised the Army-led commando operation to put an end to the Gulshan restaurant hostage crisis by killing the terrorists and rescuing 13 foreigners and Bangladeshis. I would like to thank the Army for proving once again their ability and necessity to face such a crisis in national life, she said. Besides, the BNP chief expressed her gratitude to the members of Naval and Air Forces, Police, Rab, BGB, firefighters, intelligence and other law enforcement agencies who tackled the terrorist attack with immense courage risking their lives. She expressed her deep shock at the death of 28 people in the incident and prayed for the eternal peace of their departed souls. Khaleda thanked the friendly countries that expressed their sympathies and assured of their assistance to face extremism and terrorism. I hope theyll continue their all possible cooperation showing respect to our state sovereignty in facing terrorism. Stating that coordinated efforts are necessary to tackle extremism, she said the countrys current terrorism is not merely a law-and-order problem. It wont be possible to solve the problem only carrying out drives by law enforcers. She warned that the crisis will deepen further if the government uses anti-terrorism programmes as tools to subdue its political opponents. No one is now safe in the country following the continued attacks on people of all faiths and opinions, the BNP chief said, We must stop such killings and bloodsheds. We must get united and make people united. Khaleda also alleged that terrorism is spreading gradually in the country for the absence of democracy and the rule of law, and persisting autocratic rule, political intolerance, repressive acts and economic deprivation. I think its not possible to overcome the current crisis without participation of people. Only democratic environment can ensure peoples involvement (in anti-terrorism efforts), she observed. BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and standing committee members were present at the press conference.