Khaleda to launch movement to realize midterm polls

Opposition leader Khaleda Zia said her party would launch movement to realise the mid-term national elections to overcome what she called prevailing dangerous situation in the country, reports UNB. Addressing a reception of newly elected office-bearers of the Supreme Court Bar Association at Engineers Institution auditorium Thursday evening, she said constitutional crisis has been created in the country through preparing a draft constitution in the name of amending the constitution. As a result Khaleda said the country is placed under a dangerous situation. "To overcome the situation, we have raised the demand for midterm elections and we have to realize the demand through movement," she said, adding people also want the snap polls for the failure of the government. The BNP chairperson said the responsibility of bringing about fundamental changes to the constitution can not be left to the government, parliament, judiciary or any committee. She said late President Zia had introduced the provision of referendum in the case of bringing about basic changes in the constitution to seek public mandate. This provision is now being dropped. Khaleda said "if parliament, judiciary or a committee is vested with the power of amending the constitution by snatching the people's power, we can not accept it." The opposition leader alleged that the government has pushed the three organs of the state towards anarchy through naked politicisation. Now, she said the government has been playing with the constitution. She said the government is now trying to erase the provision of the President's consultation with the Supreme Court in controlling of the judicial officers and magistrate and vest all power with the President to restore the provision of one-party rule in the constitution. Presided over by Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum president Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia, the function was also addressed by Barrister Maudud Ahmed, SCBA president Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, SCBA secretary Barrister Badruddoza Badal, TH Khan, Zamiruddin Sircar, Barrister Aminul Huq, Barrister Nazmul Huda and Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon.