AL bins Khaleda\\\'s claim of killings by joint forces

Awami League (AL) trashed on Wednesday BNP chief Khaleda Zia's claim that 300 people were killed in the joint forces' operation saying that no one was killed or faced forced disappearance, reports UNB.

"Our media is on guard. It cannot be that several hundreds people have been killed but media could trace anything. Khaleda Zia delivered blatant lies convening a press conference as she thinks that the media is inept," Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said.

Matia said this while addressing a press conference arranged at AL president's political office to give party's formal reaction to Khaleda Zia's Tuesday's speech.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Khaleda claimed that around 300 members of opposition 19-party alliance have either been killed or made disappeared in last one month, accusing the government of turning the law enforcement agencies into "killer forces".

Addressing the press conference, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim said that no killing or forced disappearance took place in the country saying law enforcing agencies arrested people and brought them to book. "Nothing happened except that. Where she got such information from?"

Nasim went on: "The joint forces took steps as per the law. Sometimes it is needed to take stern action to establish peace. Now peace prevails in the country for Prime Minister's Sheikh Hasina's able leadership."

The AL leader came down hard on former premier Khaleda Zia for questioning foreigners' recognition's of the present government.

"We can't imagine a former premier can say this. Before the election,

Khaleda said no one will recognise the government. But there is no country in the globe, except one, that did not recognise this regime. They all recognized this government as voting took place properly," he told journalists.