Police foil Zia Parishad discussion

Police yesterday foiled a discussion organised in the city for BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's release.

Organised by Zia parishad, a pro-BNP forum, the discussion was scheduled to be held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh around 11:00am.

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BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir among other party leaders and activists were not allowed to enter the venue after policemen told them that no programmes were to be held there yesterday.

This is an example of a lack of “minimum space” for democratic practices in the country under the present government, Fakhrul later told journalists at the venue.

The discussion programme was arranged by an organisation of intellectual people, he said.

Meanwhile at another programme at the Jatiya Press Club, BNP Standing Committee Member Moudud Ahmed urged the government to accept students' demand for reformation of the quota system in civil service in order to “restore normalcy in the country's educational institutions”.

“Please uphold the prime minister's announcement [regarding abolishing the quota system]. Otherwise, people will take up the matter in their hands to realise their demand,” Moudud said.

On July 12, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told parliament that it is not possible to reform freedom fighter quota in government jobs as there is a High Court verdict upholding it.

Earlier on April 11, the premier had announced in the House that the quota system would be scrapped.

Moudud also criticised the PM as she took a reverse turn from her stance on the issue and called on the premier to take an initiative to ensure unconditional release of all the quota reform activists from jail and to stop repression on them.

"The countrymen will not remain isolated from the quota reformists. They will join them for a tough movement collectively to force the government to uphold the prime minister's announcement," Moudud warned.

In his speech Moudud held the government responsible for prolonging Khaleda Zia's imprisonment and said his party will go for a planned movement at an “appropriate time to oust this autocratic ruler”.

The BNP leader once again stated that his party will not participate in the upcoming general election with Khaleda in jail.