BNP opts for protest in and outside JS

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BNP Chairperson and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia Monday clearly said her party would raise voice simultaneously inside parliament and out on the street to protest "repression" on journalists, price hike of essentials and pacts signed "against country's interests", reports UNB.
She will return to parliament and wants to give some more time to the present government. However, Khaleda would not precisely say when she would be back to the House to end a long standoff.
The former Prime Minister revealed her party's strategy while answering various queries and observations made by editors and senior journalists of different national dailies, news agencies and TV channels at a high tea party hosted by her at a city hotel in the afternoon.
It was her fist formal meeting with the media since the promulgation of state of emergency on January 11, 2007 amid a political topsy-turvy over election issues and one-year rule of the Awami League-led Grand Alliance Government following a democratic transition through the December 29, 2008 polls she lost.
Khaleda said it was not that democracy would remain alive only for joining parliament, at the same time press freedom would have to be protected, as it was one of the pillars of the state-known as the fourth estate.
Referring to BNP's and her personal initiative to cooperate with the government and proposal for discussion on national issues to reach national consensus, the BNP chief noted that friendship did not take place unilaterally, it presupposed initiatives from both sides.
"The government has to be cooperative and show tolerance instead of hostile steps and attitude," she observed.
Former Prime Minister said journalists and newspapers would have to play courageous role against government's 'misdeeds'.
Khaleda deplored that now personal character assassination was going on in parliament where parliamentary parlances were not being practiced. Parliament was being dubbed 'fish market' and 'zoo' by ruling-party members while one treasury bench member termed the Speaker servant of parliament, she said, striking a note of pessimism.