Ruling party obstructing BNP council

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia last night said the ruling party men keep on saying that they would not try to stop the BNP from holding its council, but "they are not giving us permission for a venue".

"How will the council be held if they do not give permission for a venue? Will it be held at my home? Or at my small office [Gulshan office]?" she said.

Khaleda was addressing a programme to mark the 36th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal at her Gulshan office.

After six years, the BNP decided to hold its sixth national council on March 19. The party leaders said it had sought permission for venues, including Suhrawardy Udyan, and the Institute of Engineers', Bangladesh, for holding the council.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police is still mum about granting the permission, BNP sources said.

She said, "People of the country have no right to give any opinion ... the newspapers cannot write properly and no people of any religion are safe."

She said apart from ruling Awami League men, nobody is safe.       

"There is no democracy in the country. There will be no development, if there is no democracy ... The farmers are helpless. It is time to wake up."

She lambasted some law enforcers "who are torturing people" for money.

Policemen should remember that the victims are citizens of this country, she said.