BNP hits back at Hasina for remarks against Khaleda

BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon scorned the Prime Minister Sunday for asking their party chairperson Khaleda Zia to go to Pakistan, and urged Hasina to come out of dirty political culture, reports UNB.
"The Prime Minister at a meeting Saturday asked our leader (Khaleda) to go to Pakistan…There's a song 'Dil mein Hindustan'… but we're not asking her (PM) to go to India, only calling upon her to come out of such dirty political culture," he said.
Addressing a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office, Ripon said, "Our leader is a three-time Prime Minister and two-time opposition leader. She is also the chairperson of the country's most popular party and wife of the country's independence proclaimer. Why should she go to Pakistan? She has sacrificed a lot for the country."
Addressing a public rally at Shah Abdul Hamid Stadium in Gaibandha district, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina alleged that Khaleda tried to save the war criminals, but failed.
"The verdicts of war crimes trial are coming out and the trial will continue and you cannot stop it. If your (Khaleda) heart burns for Pakistan, then you may go to Pakistan …but don't inflict sufferings on the country's people and play with their fate," the PM added.
Terming Sheikh Hasina's remarks about Khaleda undemocratic, the BNP leader said, "We strongly condemn her comments."
He questioned whether the Prime Minister's remarks about the country's largest party's top leader match with her highly responsible position. "We humbly request her to let the country's people stay in peace and shun politics of vengeance."
Ripon, also the international affairs secretary of the party, alleged that the government has promoted a politics of division in the country from the city to the grassroots level.
"The joint forces are conducting operations with the help of ruling party cadres. Awami League leaders are now playing the role of 'Albadar' who had shown the occupation forces the houses of freedom fighters during the Liberation War."
Expressing concern over the growing incidents of extrajudicial killing, he said it is a matter of grave concern. "The bodies of opposition activists are being found in ponds, water bodies and on the roads after they are being arrested by the joint forces."
Ripon demanded that the government make public a white paper about how much money they received as donation for assisting Rana Plaza victims and how they spent it.