BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia delivering her speech at a huge rally of 20-party on Gurudayal Govt College ground in Kishoreganj yesterday. Photo: BNP Accusing police and the Rapid Action Battalion of "corruption and misdeeds", BNP chief Khaleda Zia urged the international community not to provide training or arms and ammunition to the forces. The two-time former premier also reiterated her demand th
at the Rab, which was created by her government in 2004, be disbanded. "The Rab has turned into a killing force while police into a corrupt one," Khaleda told a rally at Gurudayal Govt College ground in Kishoreganj. The rally was organised by the local unit of the BNP-led alliance as part of its countrywide campaign to drum up public support in favour of its demand for a fresh election under a non-partisan government. In her hour-long speech, the BNP chairperson came down heavily on the law enforcement agencies, warned the ruling party and the judiciary high-ups of consequences, and promised of a "new kind of government" if her party returned to power. KHALEDA'S FURY AGAINST POLICE, RAB In a flurry of condemnations, Khaleda said the police and the Rab are involved in corruption, killing general people and opposition men, and forced disappearances upon the government instructions instead of protecting people's life and properties. Advertisement “I call upon foreign countries to consider not selling arms, ammunition, teargas and other logistics to the police and the Rab because those are not being used against militants and criminals,” she said at the packed ground. Khaleda called upon the United Nations not to hire Rab personnel for its missions abroad, saying they might carry out the same sort of activities there. If necessary, the BNP will send documents and reports about the repressive acts of the Rab and police to the international rights bodies, she went on to say. Then she turned to the Detective Branch (DB) of Police, and said the DB is now being used for “contract killing”. JUDICIARY NOT SPARED EITHER Turning to judiciary, Khaleda Zia said people will not spare any judge, no matter how high profile they are, if they do any injustice. She called upon the judges to ensure justice for all. "Otherwise, you will have to be accountable before the Almighty Allah on the Judgment Day." Khaleda urged the judges to act without any fear or favour, and said her party will "remain with the judges" if they do so. WARNING FOR RULING PARTY The ruling Awami League and its front organisations -- Chhatra League, Jubo League and Swechchhasebak League -- have become the most powerful in the country, Khaleda alleged. Once it steps down from the government, the ruling party people will suffer consequences worse than former military strongman HM Ershad did, she said. Khaleda Zia asked her party men to resist the government's “repressive acts” and take up “swords and shields like the brave Isa Khan [a sixteenth century leader of landlords]," if necessary. “Kishoreganj is the land of the brave Isa Khan. Surely you haven't forgotten his sword. So, if you don't have anything in your hands and the repression intensifies, then there will be swords and shields for you [to counter it],” she said. One may recall that on September 18, 2006, the then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina at a rally in the city's Paltan area called upon her party men to come to Dhaka carrying logs and oars to force the then BNP-led government to hold an election. Referring to another historical event -- the battle of Plassey, the BNP chief said that a new Mir Jafar [traitor] is conspiring against the BNP and the country. “If there is a Mir Jafar, there must be a Siraj ud-Daulah as well. Mir Jafar never won against Siraj ud-Daulah. We also carry the blood of Siraj ud-Daulah in our veins. We will defeat the new Mir Jafar and our victory is certain,” she said, hinting at the AL being the traitor. She also criticised the government for "foiling" the BNP's November 8 Suhrawardy Udyan rally "using law enforcers". AND PROMISES Khaleda then went on to pledge that they will change the face of the country by establishing a pro-people government if a free, fair and inclusive election is held under a non-partisan government. “We will change all those old elements and will start with new ones. We must bring change in the country,” she asserted. Before joining the rally at 3:45pm, Khaleda reached the district circuit house. A man wearing royal dress with a wooden sword in his hand and seated on an elephant received her. Leaders and activists of the BNP-led alliance decorated the key points of the town with colourful banners, posters, festoons and placards. Several hundred arches were erected from the Meghna Bridge in Bhairab to the rally venue to welcome her. This was Khaleda's eighth visit outside the capital since January 5 election boycotted by the BNP and its allies.
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