LGRD Minister and Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam Tuesday urged BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to apologise to the nation in 24 hours for her remarks over the operation by joint forces in Satkhira, reports UNB.
"Khaleda must apologise to the nation for her remarks over the joint forces' operation in Satkhira involving a neighbouring country, or else, the government will take appropriate steps," the AL spokesperson said.
The AL leader came up with the remarks at a press conference at the party president's Dhanmondi political office in the afternoon.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, in her first address in a public rally at the city's Suhrawardy Udyan Monday said there are doubts in public minds as to who are involved in the joint forces' operation in Satkhira.
Syed Ashraf said, "The daily Inqilab has sought apology for running the report.
But Khaleda didn't pay heed to it. She said Indian forces carried out operation in Satkhira along with the Bangladeshi forces."
"What does she (Khaleda) actually want? Does she want war with the outside world? If a person like her makes such comments, it will be tough to maintain good relations with neighbouring countries." "With her speech, Khaleda on one hand instigated the neighbouring country and intervened in its armed forces on the other," he added.
Ashraf further said, "The way the daily Inqilab has sought apology, we hope, Khaleda Zia will also seek apology for the same remarks. If the daily Inqilab can seek apology, why not Khaleda Zia?" He went on: "Her speech was full of lies. She fluently spoke lies in the rally. By hiding facts, she has inspired terrorists. It's not possible to hide the facts as people have seen your rule."
The AL leader said, "One has no right to play with the country's sovereignty, and the government will take appropriate steps in this regard (Khaleda's remarks)…if steps are not taken, the nationhood will be at stake."
Mentioning that Khaleda Zia wants to hold dialogue with the government, but his son does not want that, the minister said, "No one knows who is at the helm of BNP and who is in its tail? There're two-high-commands in the party. It is a political party of two heads."
Criticising Khaleda for her party's activities to resist the 10th parliamentary polls, Ashraf said "Cows were not candidate in the election. But you burnt them, too. What was the fault of tree, fish and vegetable? Were they candidates or voters in the elections? She spares none. We want an end to the situation for the march forward of democracy."
Syed Ashraf observed that Khaleda's movement and diplomatic efforts have failed. "She surrendered to diplomats. It is not good for the country's politics. No ambassador of any foreign country has power to bring political changeover in a country… Almost all countries of the world have democratic governments. In the democratic world, bossing-over is not possible. But Khaleda Zia didn't take the reality into her consideration. We hope BNP will take lesson from this."
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