BNP not a party of entente: Delwar
Sunday, 31 August 2008
BNP Secretary General Khondoker Delwar Hossain said Saturday that they did not make any underhand deal with the caretaker government and the meeting with BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia inside the makeshift jail was not wrong, reports UNB.
"We are not a party of entente," Delwar told reporters after a joint meeting at his NAM apartment where members of the party's standing committee and executive committee, and secretaries and presidents of front organisations were present.
He said the meeting with Khaleda, which triggered controversy among the political rivals, was not a meeting of the four-party coalition.
"The chairperson wanted to meet with us, and we went there upon jail authorities' invitation," he said.
"It was not a meeting of the coalition. This allegation has been made with an ill-motive," he said in an oblique reply to criticism by the Awami League and its political allies that such a meeting was illegal.
He questioned the procedure of releasing Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, the advisers' meeting with Hasina at her Sudha Sadan home hours after her release and the telephonic conversation by the Chief Adviser.
"How did they do that? Under which law?" he asked.
He also trashed the Awami League's statement that Tarique Rahman, elder son of Khaleda, is the world's champion in corruption.
"The court has awarded him bail. There is no proof of corruption against him. The Awami League's statement is the outcome of political vengeance," he said.
"If they (the Awami League) have any proof of corruption against Tarique, it's better they sue him," he said.
Delwar said Saturday's joint meeting discussed the invitation of the Election Commission to join the upcoming dialogue on party registration while issues of commemorating the party's founding anniversary, release of Khaleda Zia and Tarique, and the existence of the state of emergency also came up.
Delwar said the meeting decided to hold discussion as part of marking the party's founding anniversary. The party holds a discussion today (Sunday) at 3 pm at Mohanagar Nattya Mancha while it will place wreaths at the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman on September 1 and hold another discussion on September 4 at Diploma Engineers' Institute.
Replying to a query, Delwar said: "We are an election-oriented party. If the dialogue is meant to hold a free and fair election and if Khaleda and Tarique are free, we will join the talks. But we won't take part in any orchestrated meeting," he said.
He demanded that the government keep prices of essentials within the reach of the people during the holy month of Ramadan.
"We are not a party of entente," Delwar told reporters after a joint meeting at his NAM apartment where members of the party's standing committee and executive committee, and secretaries and presidents of front organisations were present.
He said the meeting with Khaleda, which triggered controversy among the political rivals, was not a meeting of the four-party coalition.
"The chairperson wanted to meet with us, and we went there upon jail authorities' invitation," he said.
"It was not a meeting of the coalition. This allegation has been made with an ill-motive," he said in an oblique reply to criticism by the Awami League and its political allies that such a meeting was illegal.
He questioned the procedure of releasing Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, the advisers' meeting with Hasina at her Sudha Sadan home hours after her release and the telephonic conversation by the Chief Adviser.
"How did they do that? Under which law?" he asked.
He also trashed the Awami League's statement that Tarique Rahman, elder son of Khaleda, is the world's champion in corruption.
"The court has awarded him bail. There is no proof of corruption against him. The Awami League's statement is the outcome of political vengeance," he said.
"If they (the Awami League) have any proof of corruption against Tarique, it's better they sue him," he said.
Delwar said Saturday's joint meeting discussed the invitation of the Election Commission to join the upcoming dialogue on party registration while issues of commemorating the party's founding anniversary, release of Khaleda Zia and Tarique, and the existence of the state of emergency also came up.
Delwar said the meeting decided to hold discussion as part of marking the party's founding anniversary. The party holds a discussion today (Sunday) at 3 pm at Mohanagar Nattya Mancha while it will place wreaths at the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman on September 1 and hold another discussion on September 4 at Diploma Engineers' Institute.
Replying to a query, Delwar said: "We are an election-oriented party. If the dialogue is meant to hold a free and fair election and if Khaleda and Tarique are free, we will join the talks. But we won't take part in any orchestrated meeting," he said.
He demanded that the government keep prices of essentials within the reach of the people during the holy month of Ramadan.