Bangladesh News

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has said the caretaker government will be forced to take tough action if any party tries to launch agitation or create chaos during the interim period.

Addressing a public meeting at Barura College ground yesterday, she criticised the opposition for its plan to stage agitation against the next caretaker government.

“Caretaker government is a constitutional government…It will be compelled to take stern action against any agitation or indiscipline,” said Khaleda, also the chairperson of the BNP.

In response to the opposition leader’s call for people to come to Dhaka wielding stick and oar against the caretaker government, Khaleda said, “At that time we will not be in the government, but we will remain in the country…we want peace and we will not remain silent.”

She said those who want to foil the elections will be identified as the enemies of the country and democracy.

The prime minister reiterated that the next elections would be held in time in accordance with the constitution and people are ready to take part in it.

She reminded that the provision of a nonparty caretaker government has been incorporated in the constitution according to the opposition’s demand, as they did not want elections under a party government.

“Now the opposition neither accepts elections under a caretaker government nor a party government,” Khaleda said, adding that people will thwart any move to create constitutional vacuum through chaos and indiscipline.

The BNP chief said the late president Ziaur Rahman had restored democracy and her government restored parliamentary democracy that would be continuing in the country.

She said the Awami League (AL) government had deprived the country of having development for five years as they introduced “the reign of terror”.

“People do not vote for them (AL) as they are to face plights whenever they (AL) come to power. On the contrary, people time and again voted for the BNP as it ensured development and welfare of the people,” Khaleda told her audience.

In 2001 elections, she said, people took a correct decision by electing the BNP-led alliance by two-thirds majority and claimed that her government fulfilled its commitment by curbing terrorism.

Presided over by local MP Zakaria Taher Sumon, the meeting was also addressed by Health Minister Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Communications Minister Nazmul Huda, Prime Minister’s Political Secretary Harris Chowdhury and Rabeya Chowdhury.

Earlier, the prime minister inaugurated Barura Fire Station, Poura Bhaban and Abu Taher Sarak.