Peaceful movement soon: Khaleda

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has threatened that her party is going through an overhauling process and will launch a peaceful movement together with people very soon.

"Cases after cases have been filed against BNP leaders and activists. A good number of our party men are still in jail. And many of them have become victims of forced disappearance. Under the circumstances we must overhaul our party and then we'll wage a movement together with people in a peaceful and democratic process," she said.

Khaleda was talking to journalists after exchanging greetings with diplomats and eminent citizens on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital on Saturday.

Making her party's stance against violence, she said, "Our movement will be for the welfare of the country and its people. We don't believe in the movement of arson attacks and vandalism. People know it very well who had resorted to violence and arson attacks."

Khaleda alleged that a vested quarter has long been hatching conspiracy against BNP to divide it.

"BNP is still the most popular party of Bangladesh. They're (government) making their continuous efforts to annihilate BNP because of its vast popularity," she claimed. She alleged that the government through various agencies is making reports in different media against BNP to split it.

"I'm to clearly state that there is no division and grouping in BNP. The party has been with people and will remain so in the future too. People got fade up with the misrule of Awami League," she said adding that the people are going through a critical time due to unbridled price hike of essentials.

She accused the government of failure to control the law and order in the country. "Killing, enforced disappearances have now been the daily items in newspapers as there is no rule of law, and law and order. Now the country's people have no security. Those who are responsible for giving the security are now making the people their hostage. They (law enforcers) are picking up people and collecting a huge amount of money."

The BNP chief accused that the government has politicised the administration, police administration and the judiciary, obliterating the rule of law and justice.

She reiterated her demand for a fresh national election under a non-party administration.

Khaleda exchanged pleasantries with the heads of diplomatic missions eminent citizens.