Let's work together by ending politics of hartal: Khaleda
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Immediate-past premier Khaleda Zia apologised for any inadvertent past mistakes and pledged to mend the follies and work together next time if voted back to power in next Monday's polls, report agencies.
The BNP chairperson also called for an end to the politics of hartal and blockade and urged all parties to work together for the welfare of the people forgetting the past bitterness.
"Let's forget whatever happened in the past. We may have differences, but let's work together for the betterment of the people and the nation by putting an end to politics of hartal, blockade and vandalism," she told a huge election rally at the historic Paltan Maidan Saturday afternoon, the penultimate day before the crucial national elections.
Alongside holding out an olive branch towards her rivals, Khaleda, however, bitterly criticised Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and her grand alliance with Jatiya Party chairman Ershad whom she termed a "notorious thief".
Making a flashback on the ordeals that came down on Hasina and herself in the recent past, the BNP chief said after being arrested she was pressured to leave the country, but she didn't give in to the pressures. To make her morally weak, false cases were filed against her two sons and herself, she alleged.
"I told them that I would never leave my people and my country since I don't have any address outside the country, but some leaders fled the country and the people at time of their distress," she said amidst cheers from her supporters, pointing her finger at the other ex-PM, Sheikh Hasina.
Scoffing at her archrival Hasina's statements against corruption and terrorism, Khaleda said words against corruption do not suit them as she alleged that during the Awami League rule, corruption amounting to Tk 171.92 billion was revealed. The amount was later gradually brought down to Tk 5.26 billion in 2005.
Besides, she said, the Awami League banded in a grand alliance with Ershad as they felt they would not be able to win the election. Describing Ershad as a 'world thief', she said he was already convicted for corruption not by any special court but under normal court. He still faces many corruption cases and will be convicted.
Khaleda went on lashing at the former military ruler, saying that Ershad snatched away democracy. "How corruption could be curbed and democracy restored by entering into alliance with a man like Ershad," she posed the question.
Refuting Awami League's criticism against BNP for patronising terrorism, she said people know under which regime terrorism got spawned and spread out. "They have one godfather in each district--people know who their godfathers in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Feni are."
Khaleda claimed that during her previous regime, her government curbed terrorism by launching "Operation Clean Heart" and forming RAB. She also claimed the credit for arresting and punishing the Islamic militants who abused Islam.
The BNP chairperson alleged that conspiracies are being cooked up one after another to thwart a BNP return to power. As part of that scheme, they started attacking BNP candidates, including Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia in Mirpur and another in Kushtia, sensing the electoral debacle.
None will be spared if involvement in corruption is found in future, Khaleda forewarned, adding that they would further strengthen the Anti-Corruption Commission that conducted a ruthless drive in the interim period that had thrown both the past PMs and most of their deputies behind bars on graft charges.
"We'll handle corruption with a strong hand," she told the Paltan rally, adding, "A sound democratic state free from corruption will be established if voted to power," she said in a renewal of her pledge.
"If voted to power, we'll ensure absolute freedom of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) so that it can do its job freely," Khaleda said.
"We started anti-terrorism drive through forming the elite-force RAB with a view to bringing peace for the countrymen so that they can pass their days scare-free."
Khaleda Zia alleged that a particular alliance made Chittagong Port, a gateway for country's economy, inoperative which converted the country to an 'ineffective state'.
"Time has come to stand on our own foot. We want to restart our countrywide development schemes that were taken up during our regime by attaining people's mandate once again," she told her audience in her exhaustive pre-election public address.
Describing significant development in different sectors, like education, health and agriculture, Khaleda said her government ensured copy-free examination, healthcare for all and seeds and fertilisers for the farmers during her regime.
She claimed that they kept their commitment that was given to the countrymen before assuming power and hoped the countrymen would repose their trust in them again.
She pledged to bring prices of essentials under the purchasing capacity of the commoners and to make parliament effective for the betterment of the country.
The ex-PM made a fresh electoral pledge that at least one person of each family would be brought under fresh employment net if they are voted to power again.
People were allowed to enter through the main gate, the only gate between Bangabandhu National Stadium and Moulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium.
They had to go through several check points to enter there.
The security forces deployed patrol team in the surrounding buildings.
The banner in the stage reads 'save the country, save the people for the sake of democracy and development.'
One side of the banner shows the image of former president Ziaur Rahman, the party founder, and the other side Khaleda.
Party supporters started arriving in the venue since morning with processions from different areas. The gathering formally started at around 3:15 pm through reading out religious text.
Security set-up at Paltan has been beefed up specially in view of the two party bosses holding public meetings on two consecutive days.
The BNP chairperson also called for an end to the politics of hartal and blockade and urged all parties to work together for the welfare of the people forgetting the past bitterness.
"Let's forget whatever happened in the past. We may have differences, but let's work together for the betterment of the people and the nation by putting an end to politics of hartal, blockade and vandalism," she told a huge election rally at the historic Paltan Maidan Saturday afternoon, the penultimate day before the crucial national elections.
Alongside holding out an olive branch towards her rivals, Khaleda, however, bitterly criticised Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina and her grand alliance with Jatiya Party chairman Ershad whom she termed a "notorious thief".
Making a flashback on the ordeals that came down on Hasina and herself in the recent past, the BNP chief said after being arrested she was pressured to leave the country, but she didn't give in to the pressures. To make her morally weak, false cases were filed against her two sons and herself, she alleged.
"I told them that I would never leave my people and my country since I don't have any address outside the country, but some leaders fled the country and the people at time of their distress," she said amidst cheers from her supporters, pointing her finger at the other ex-PM, Sheikh Hasina.
Scoffing at her archrival Hasina's statements against corruption and terrorism, Khaleda said words against corruption do not suit them as she alleged that during the Awami League rule, corruption amounting to Tk 171.92 billion was revealed. The amount was later gradually brought down to Tk 5.26 billion in 2005.
Besides, she said, the Awami League banded in a grand alliance with Ershad as they felt they would not be able to win the election. Describing Ershad as a 'world thief', she said he was already convicted for corruption not by any special court but under normal court. He still faces many corruption cases and will be convicted.
Khaleda went on lashing at the former military ruler, saying that Ershad snatched away democracy. "How corruption could be curbed and democracy restored by entering into alliance with a man like Ershad," she posed the question.
Refuting Awami League's criticism against BNP for patronising terrorism, she said people know under which regime terrorism got spawned and spread out. "They have one godfather in each district--people know who their godfathers in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Feni are."
Khaleda claimed that during her previous regime, her government curbed terrorism by launching "Operation Clean Heart" and forming RAB. She also claimed the credit for arresting and punishing the Islamic militants who abused Islam.
The BNP chairperson alleged that conspiracies are being cooked up one after another to thwart a BNP return to power. As part of that scheme, they started attacking BNP candidates, including Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mia in Mirpur and another in Kushtia, sensing the electoral debacle.
None will be spared if involvement in corruption is found in future, Khaleda forewarned, adding that they would further strengthen the Anti-Corruption Commission that conducted a ruthless drive in the interim period that had thrown both the past PMs and most of their deputies behind bars on graft charges.
"We'll handle corruption with a strong hand," she told the Paltan rally, adding, "A sound democratic state free from corruption will be established if voted to power," she said in a renewal of her pledge.
"If voted to power, we'll ensure absolute freedom of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) so that it can do its job freely," Khaleda said.
"We started anti-terrorism drive through forming the elite-force RAB with a view to bringing peace for the countrymen so that they can pass their days scare-free."
Khaleda Zia alleged that a particular alliance made Chittagong Port, a gateway for country's economy, inoperative which converted the country to an 'ineffective state'.
"Time has come to stand on our own foot. We want to restart our countrywide development schemes that were taken up during our regime by attaining people's mandate once again," she told her audience in her exhaustive pre-election public address.
Describing significant development in different sectors, like education, health and agriculture, Khaleda said her government ensured copy-free examination, healthcare for all and seeds and fertilisers for the farmers during her regime.
She claimed that they kept their commitment that was given to the countrymen before assuming power and hoped the countrymen would repose their trust in them again.
She pledged to bring prices of essentials under the purchasing capacity of the commoners and to make parliament effective for the betterment of the country.
The ex-PM made a fresh electoral pledge that at least one person of each family would be brought under fresh employment net if they are voted to power again.
People were allowed to enter through the main gate, the only gate between Bangabandhu National Stadium and Moulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium.
They had to go through several check points to enter there.
The security forces deployed patrol team in the surrounding buildings.
The banner in the stage reads 'save the country, save the people for the sake of democracy and development.'
One side of the banner shows the image of former president Ziaur Rahman, the party founder, and the other side Khaleda.
Party supporters started arriving in the venue since morning with processions from different areas. The gathering formally started at around 3:15 pm through reading out religious text.
Security set-up at Paltan has been beefed up specially in view of the two party bosses holding public meetings on two consecutive days.