BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia alleged yesterday (Thursday) that Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), formerly Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), has turned into a cat from a tiger.  “As the BDR has been weakened, Myanmar border guards (Nasaka) showed their audacity by intruding into Bangladesh territory. And border killings are increasing,” she said while speaking at an iftar and doa mahfil at a hotel in Gulshan in the city. The Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, a front body of the BNP, organised the function in honour of freedom fighters.
Khaleda criticised the government for imposing only Tk. 192 as toll for allowing Indian freight through Bangladesh. “When people have to pay Tk. 500 to Tk. 800 for using the Jamuna and Daudkandi bridges, it is shameful to impose a toll of Tk. 192 only for India,” she said.  The former premier said people freed the country from Pakistanis not to become subservient to another country. “Maybe I am not raising my voice against this, but why not the freedom fighters?” she wondered.
The BNP leader demanded a fair share of the waters of common rivers from India, saying, “We do not want mercy from anybody, but want our just share. But we are not being given that." She further alleged that the country has no independence and sovereignty. “I am not affraid to speak. I am talking and will continue to speak. If necessary, I am ready to take to the street. But before that, all must get united,” she said.
Liberation war organiser and LDP chairpman, Col (Retd) Oli Ahmed, BNP standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, vice-chairman Maj (Retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed, Bir Bikram, Kallayan Party chief Maj Gen (Retd) Syed Mohammed Ibrahim, Bir Protik, Maj Gen (Retd) Ainuddin, Dr Jafrullah Chowdhury, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal president Ishtiaque Aziz Ulfat, among others, attended the iftar party.
Khaleda started her mass contact programme by attending a large number of iftar parties throughout the month of Ramadan. She took iftar with orphans and ulema on the first day of Ramadan, and wrapped up her iftar programme yesterday by taking iftar with freedom fighters.
The former premier took part in 21 iftar parties organised by her party, front organisations and allies of the BNP-led 20-Party Alliance. She was also scheduled to attend three more iftar parties of the Jamaat, NPP and the NDP, but could not join them due to “police obstruction.”