I would have been PM had there been fair, inclusive polls: Khaleda

Claiming herself leader of the country’s 95 per cent people, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday night said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina must engage in a dialogue with her for resolving the ongoing political crisis. ‘I’m not the opposition leader, but I’m the leader of the country’s people. The country’s 95 per cent people are in favour of me. I would have been the Prime Minister, not the opposition leader, had there been a free, fair and inclusive election on January 5,’ she said. While exchanging views with a group of journalists, Khaleda came up with the reaction to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s remark that there will be no talk with Khaleda as she is not the opposition leader. The meeting was held at Khaleda’s Gulshan office, marking the ‘Black Day of the Newspapers’. The BNP chief also claimed that 95pc people had boycotted the January-5 election responding to her call to do so. ‘You (Hasina) are a leader of the country’s only five percent people and the president of Awami League. You’re not the Prime Minister of people. So, you must sit with me if you want to resolve the crisis.’ Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a press conference on her recent China visit said there will be no dialogue with Khaleda as she is not the leader of the opposition in parliament, according to UNB.