Save country from conspirators: Khaleda
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia Monday cautioned the nation against a deep-rooted external conspiracy in connivance with a vested group within the country to brand Bangladesh as a fundamentalist state, reports UNB.
She referred to recent reports in certain foreign magazines and relentless propaganda by a neighbouring country, and said this was a part of the conspiracy to 'push fundamentalism into Bangladesh.'
Addressing a huge public meeting at Govt Alia Madrasa ground in Sylhet city Khaleda told the audience, "It is you who can save the nation from the conspirators. Will you vote for BNP, the nationalist force, or those who are conniving with their foreign masters to make the country a subservient state?"
Khaleda who served as prime minister for two terms told the meeting that the country will face an acid test on Dec 29.
"Your vote will prove if you want to safeguard the national interest and inflict crushing defeat to those who are eager to barter away the sovereignty," she said.
Directing at external forces, Khaleda said Bangladesh is not a fundamentalist state. Here people of different religions - Hindu, Buddha, Christian - have been living in harmony for ages. There are no communal disturbances or riots as are often evident in a neighbouring country. Certain elements at the behest of external forces tried to create disturbance in the name of religion had been suppressed during the BNP government.
Referring to the 'logi-boitha' movement of Awami League she reminded the nation of brutal killings on the street of Dhaka and blockade across the country that inflicted a heavy dent to the economy. She questioned for whose interest the anarchy was created? Obviously, the country will not be safe in their hands, she added in a veiled reference to Awami League.
Pointing to the ACC report of her son Koko's Tk 110 million transactions through a Singapore bank, Khaleda termed it false. "The false information was dished out with a motive to undermine her party on the eve of election," she said and urged the people not to be misled by the report.
About corruption, Khaleda said her party is wholly for weeding out corruption. It is BNP who set up the Anti-Corruption Commission. "We will curb corruption, but shall not harass innocent people in doing it," she added.
The BNP chief pledged to make available agricultural inputs, promote entrepreneurs with incentive for setting up new factories and take all out measures to bring down prices of essentials.
She also pledged for setting up a school-college of international standard in Sylhet, and asked the local leaders to look for a suitable place for it.
Asking for vote the BNP chairperson introduced six 4-party alliance candidates - Saifur Rahman, Ilias Ali, Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury, Dilder Hossain Selim, Maulana Fariduddin and Maulana Habibur Rahman.
She also addressed projection meetings at Moulvibazar, Brahmanbaria and Bhairab before returning to Dhaka late at night.
Another report of BSS said Khaleda Zia will be arriving in the port-city today (Wednesday) on a visit as part of her countrywide election campaign. She will address a public meeting at the historic Laldighi Moidan on Wednesday afternoon.
Party sources said as Khaleda will not be able to make extensive tour to cover most part of the Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and districts of CHT due to time constraints, she will introduce the four-party alliance candidates contesting from different constituencies in greater Chittagong at the Laldighi Moidan.
She referred to recent reports in certain foreign magazines and relentless propaganda by a neighbouring country, and said this was a part of the conspiracy to 'push fundamentalism into Bangladesh.'
Addressing a huge public meeting at Govt Alia Madrasa ground in Sylhet city Khaleda told the audience, "It is you who can save the nation from the conspirators. Will you vote for BNP, the nationalist force, or those who are conniving with their foreign masters to make the country a subservient state?"
Khaleda who served as prime minister for two terms told the meeting that the country will face an acid test on Dec 29.
"Your vote will prove if you want to safeguard the national interest and inflict crushing defeat to those who are eager to barter away the sovereignty," she said.
Directing at external forces, Khaleda said Bangladesh is not a fundamentalist state. Here people of different religions - Hindu, Buddha, Christian - have been living in harmony for ages. There are no communal disturbances or riots as are often evident in a neighbouring country. Certain elements at the behest of external forces tried to create disturbance in the name of religion had been suppressed during the BNP government.
Referring to the 'logi-boitha' movement of Awami League she reminded the nation of brutal killings on the street of Dhaka and blockade across the country that inflicted a heavy dent to the economy. She questioned for whose interest the anarchy was created? Obviously, the country will not be safe in their hands, she added in a veiled reference to Awami League.
Pointing to the ACC report of her son Koko's Tk 110 million transactions through a Singapore bank, Khaleda termed it false. "The false information was dished out with a motive to undermine her party on the eve of election," she said and urged the people not to be misled by the report.
About corruption, Khaleda said her party is wholly for weeding out corruption. It is BNP who set up the Anti-Corruption Commission. "We will curb corruption, but shall not harass innocent people in doing it," she added.
The BNP chief pledged to make available agricultural inputs, promote entrepreneurs with incentive for setting up new factories and take all out measures to bring down prices of essentials.
She also pledged for setting up a school-college of international standard in Sylhet, and asked the local leaders to look for a suitable place for it.
Asking for vote the BNP chairperson introduced six 4-party alliance candidates - Saifur Rahman, Ilias Ali, Shafi Ahmed Chowdhury, Dilder Hossain Selim, Maulana Fariduddin and Maulana Habibur Rahman.
She also addressed projection meetings at Moulvibazar, Brahmanbaria and Bhairab before returning to Dhaka late at night.
Another report of BSS said Khaleda Zia will be arriving in the port-city today (Wednesday) on a visit as part of her countrywide election campaign. She will address a public meeting at the historic Laldighi Moidan on Wednesday afternoon.
Party sources said as Khaleda will not be able to make extensive tour to cover most part of the Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and districts of CHT due to time constraints, she will introduce the four-party alliance candidates contesting from different constituencies in greater Chittagong at the Laldighi Moidan.