Khaleda wanted to create a Thailand-like situation obstructing polls: Hasina

HABIGANJ, Nov 29 (UNB): Renewing her party's allegation that Khaleda Zia boycotted the January-5 election sensing defeat, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said on Saturday the BNP chief had actually wanted to create a Thailand-like situation where martial law was declared amid the opposition's movement.
"She (Khaleda) had actually wanted to create a situation in the country like the one in Thailand obstructing the January-5 election," she told a mammoth public rally at Habiganj New Field.
Hasina said the BNP leader had tried to foil the election. "What would have happened had the election been stalled …look at Thailand, martial law has been declared there, and there has been no election schedule."
The prime minister also said Khaleda Zia did not participate in the election sensing defeat. "But why did you (Khaleda) try to resist people, why did you kill the presiding officer," she asked.
Chaired by local MP Advocate Abu Jahir, the rally was addressed, among others, by AL advisory council member Suranjit Sengupta, Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, State Minister for Youth and Sports Biren Sikder, former chief whip Abdus Shahid,  and local Awami League leaders.
Another report adds from Khulna: Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam said Saturday there is no force that can topple the Awami League (AL) government from power, not even one second before the stipulated time.
Syed Ashraf, also the AL general secretary, noted that Bangladesh is no longer in that kind of state when any force from the outside world would have come here and brought changes in power.
The AL spokesperson came up with the observation while addressing the annual conference of the Khulna metropolitan unit of the ruling party.
Referring to regional power India's present stance over Bangladesh politics, he quipped, "BNP had said Modi would be in favour of them once he becomes the Indian Prime Minister, but Modi has taken a firmer stance in favour of AL compared to that of Monmohan Singh."
Syed Ashraf further said US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena is looking for the fall of the AL government.
He also criticised BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia for having a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal. "Biswal has not yet been married off…it's a matter of shame for the nation that Khaleda had met Nisha Desai with her head bowed down.