BNP to go to polls if their demands are met: Khaleda

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CHITTAGONG, Nov 7 (UNB): BNP Chairperson and ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia Friday asked the caretaker government to create conditions for free and fair election and immediately handover power to elected government to protect the nation's sovereignty, people and resources.
"We're giving you time, we want to go to election. Create conditions, accept our demands, immediately give elections and transfer power to the people," she said at a mammoth public rally at the historic Laldighi Maidan.
Khaleda, in her first public meeting since the easing of emergency rules on political activities, questioned the neutrality of the Election Commission (EC) and its chief, saying that a free and fair election could not be held under the present Commission.
She demanded implementation of BNP's 7-point demand that envisages full lifting of the emergency, repealing undemocratic provisions of the RPO (Representation of the People's Order) and release of BNP leaders.
The BNP chairperson alleged that the caretaker administration did not create level playing field for all. It created level playing field for one party and an uneven field for BNP, she said and alleged, without naming Awami League, that although leaders of a party were released, BNP's 40 senior leaders were still detained.
Khaleda said the government wants to go for "selection" in the name of "election" keeping the state of emergency in place. Asking why the government did not want full lifting of the emergency, she said people would not accept "selection" in the name of "election".
She said the government met all demands of others, but did not meet their demands despite assurances.
Khaleda mentioned the chief election commissioner's (CEC's) recent remarks criticising the holding of the elections in 2001 and aspired to hold the next election like that of 1970. She asked the CEC which party he wanted to bring in power by holding the election of '70.
"What's the use of taking part in such election? People started casting doubts about the present Election Commission," she said, as the people at Laldighi shouted "no" indicating their approval to her observation.
Referring to her rival Sheikh Hasina's remarks that the election must be held on December 18 no matter who came or not, Khaleda said why they had jeopardised the elections slated for January 22 last year by creating chaos and paralysing the country by using "logi, boitha'.
"They (Awami League) even wanted to stop supply of oxygen to Bangabhaban. They wanted to come to power by destroying everything and they won't hesitate to make the country a subservient state," she said.
bdnews24.com adds: Without ruling out her party joining the December 18 general election, Khaleda Zia said BNP would go to the polls if authorities meet their seven-point charter of demands.
She told her audience, "I have come here to reclaim the people's rights snatched in last two years.
"No matter how much conspiracy is hatched, you know what is true and what is false."
Khaleda said she had done no injustice.
"I was confined to the special jail for one year. I don't know why I was detained."
"If the country moved ahead in exchange for the injustice done to me I would not have any grievance."
Criticising the caretaker government, she said, "They have turned the country into a bigger jail. People are being intimidated and false cases filed against them."
In an indirect reference to her main political rival Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, she said, "I did not flee abroad."
"Man makes mistake. We also made mistakes. But our successes outweigh our mistakes," she said.
The speech of the BNP chairperson sounded to be one of election canvassing as she pledged a number of measures if elected to office for a third term.
Khaleda arrived at the Laldighi ground at 4:00pm after driving to the port city at 1:45pm amid thousands of cheering masses greeting her.
The rally at Laldighi ground formally started at 3:00pm. Chittagong city BNP convenor and former member of parliament Syed Wahidul Alam presided over the rally.
She went directly to the circuit house for rest and refreshments and later exchanged views with the local BNP leaders on a number of issues.