Without naming India, she alleged that the country?s economy as well as foreign and defence policies were being dictated by a neighbouring country.
?The government has failed to run the state in every sector. Its ouster is a must to make our mission a success. We have to move towards Dhaka for a mass upsurge,? Khaleda, also Leader of the Opposition, told a sea of humanity at Altafunnnesa ground in Bogra.
The BNP chief spoke at the rally for 40 minutes after the road march she led from Dhaka towards Rajshahi to put pressure on the government to restore the caretaker system for overseeing the next general election.
Khaleda also addressed three meetings at Kaliakoir (gazipur), Bhuapur (Tangail) and Hatikumrul (Sirajganj). Khaleda criticised the government for obstructing the road march.
Her supporters heard her with rapt attention as she lambasted the government of ruining the national economy and reducing the country to a market.
?The government is handing over the state to another country in a planned way. By doing so, its financial and industrial sectors are being destroyed while India is gaining,? she said.
Opposing transit facilities for India through Bangladeshi territory, the former prime minister remarked that the Farakka Barrage on the Padma River (Ganges in India) became operational on an experimental basis. ?But that experiment never comes to an end. So, we don?t want to give any permission for providing a corridor in the guise of transit.?
The BNP chairperson reiterated her demand for restoration of the caretaker government provision in the constitution, expressing her confidence in reverting to the system.
?There cannot be elections without the BNP and CG. The government has enough time. It should hold midterm polls as soon as possible under a caretaker government for the betterment of the country.? she said, ?otherwise people of the country will force the government to hand over power to us.?
Ruling out the possibility of holding elections under the Election Commission, she said the country?s intellectual and professionals had also extended their support to the caretaker government for the sake of free, fair and credible elections.
Khaleda warned that the government?s dream of holding the next general election only by ensuring participation of Awami League and Jatiya Party would be dashed.
?Awami League wants to elect Jatiya Party chairman Ershad as the opposition leader. But this dream will not come true. If Awami League wants to survive in politics, it has to take part in the elections definitely under a caretaker government system.?
She declared that the AL scrapped the caretaker government system fearing a debacle in the next election.
The opposition leader also alleged that the government had politicised the administration, dumped 480 officials by making them officers on special duty and rendered the administration teethless.
She asked the Prime Minister to cleanse the administration of corruption and said that if anyone is victimised, her party would ensure justice for them when it comes to power.
Khaleda alleged that the World Bank and IMF had suspended funding for the country?s development projects due to ?corruption spree? by the ruling party?s influential ones.
?From top to bottom of the government, all are engaged in corruption. Facts, figures and documents are there in the possession of the opposition. All corrupt people will be brought to book if BNP is voted back to power,? she said.
Dwelling on the situation in the capital market, Khaleda said top leaders of the ruling AL were directly involved in the share market manipulation.
?A so-called investigation team has been formed but identities of the real culprits and masterminds are yet to be disclosed.?
Khaleda questioned the fairness of the war crimes tribunal, saying that it had been formed with politicised persons and members of Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee for staging a drama to destroy the BNP?s political alliance and a political party.
?Please stop such farcical trial and release the detained leaders including Motiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Mojaheed and Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.?
Describing BNP as pro-liberation force, the opposition leader said ruling party men were waiting outside the country during the liberation war while the nationalist forces were engaged in the frontline battle against the occupation forces.
?It is not Awami League but the BNP which is the party of freedom fighters,? said Khaleda, adding that Ziaur Rahman asked the countrymen to fight for its independence in 1971.
?I would like to make a similar call from Bogra to protect the country, its soil and people,? she said hinting at the impending anti-government movement.
The opposition leader alleged that the country?s judiciary is engaged in repressive activities instead of upholding the rights of people.
Khaleda mentioned that Bangladesh Rifled (BDR), which is now renamed as Bangladesh Border Guards, has been destroyed to make the country?s bordering areas insecure.
?Narcotics items are being smuggled into the country through the border to destroy the country?s young generation. Hasina wants to meet her evil desire to keep the youth generation asleep,? she said blaming the government increasing drug addiction.
When Khaleda reached Bogra meeting venue, thousands of supporters chanted slogans welcoming her, her son and the party?s senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman and demanding the exit of the AL government.
Hundreds of arches were set up in the streets welcoming the road-march and people of all walks of life stood way-side of the motorcade with colourful banners, placards and portraits of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman.
BNP leaders, supporters and activists of the party gathered in the meeting place with sheaves of paddy (the party?s symbol).
Asking the government to stop repression, she demanded the release of opposition leaders immediately.
Khaleda announced the road-march programmes from a public meeting on September 27 demanding the restoration of caretaker government system.
Khaleda, on her way to Northern region of the country, addressed a number of wayside meetings and said her party would call for ?final action? at the end of the road marches to Rajshahi, Chittagong, Barisal, Khulna and Rangpur.
Khaleda started from her Gulshan residence around 10:20am and it took nearly ten minutes to reach Uttara from where her cross country caravan set out officially.
Source: daily-sun.com
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