BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday alleged that the government is planning to hold another farce poll by using, what she said, the controversial Election Commission (EC). “If the government had the goodwill to hold a free and fair election, it could not have appointed such a controversial person as the chief election commissioner,” she said while speaking with the newly elected pro-BNP office bearers of Dhaka Bar Association at her Gulshan office in the capital last night.
The BNP chief said the BNP wants to go to power through the ballots of people, not in some filthy ways. Khaleda also demanded a fair share of Teesta waters from India saying that she wants friendship on the basis of equality. "We do not want friendship at the cost of giving up country’s interests. We want friendship on an equal basis," she said.
The former premier criticised the government for gas price hike and politicising police.
She alleged that the AL-government wants to cling on to power forever. Khaleda said the recent investigation proved that the ruling party partners were involved in the killing of lawmaker Manjurul in Gaibandha. She called upon the lawyers to work in a united manner to ensure victory of pro- BNP panel in the Supreme Court Bar Association poll. She stressed on the unity and said the victory of pro-BNP lawyers proved that the party would come to power again if the election is held in a free and fair manner.
The BNP-Jamaat panel swept the Dhaka Bar Association election receiving 21, out of 27 posts, including the posts of president and general secretary.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah, Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokan, Advocate Sanaullah Miah, Advocate Masud Ahmed Talukder, newly elected Dhaka Bar President M Khorshed Alam and General Secretary Azizul Islam Khan Bachchu, among others, were present on the occasion.