Govt violating Khaleda’s rights

BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan yesterday accused the government of lying about issues related to sending party Chairperson Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment and vowed not to leave the streets until the government steps down.

"Depriving Khaleda Zia of proper treatment is a gross violation of her fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution. If the government follows the constitution, why are they not sending Khaleda Zia abroad for treatment?" he said while speaking at a rally at the Latibabad Eye Hospital ground in Kishoreganj.

The rally was held after the party's Mymensingh road march ended in Kishoreganj yesterday evening.

"They [AL government] are lying. Our movement will continue until this government falls," Moyeen added.

The opposition party held the 114km road march to press home its one-point demand that seeks the resignation of the government and the next national election under a non-party interim government.

The column of vehicles carrying the BNP leaders and activists left Trishal of Mymensingh district after a brief rally at 11:30am. It reached Kishoreganj around 7:30pm.

On the way to Kishoreganj, the vehicles stopped in Churkhai, China Mor, and Shambhuganj Bazar areas of Mymensingh and Kishoreganj where brief rallies were held.

Hundreds of BNP leaders and activists, carrying posters and banners, took position along the highway to cheer the motorcade on.

Addressing the rally, Nazrul Islam Khan, another standing committee member, said the ruling party is unsettled by the huge public participation in BNP's road march.

"You [people] have to oust the government and establish a caretaker government if you want to exercise your franchise, lead a better life, and live with dignity," he told the rally.

"Awami League claims a lot of development has happened in the country. As per bank records, 14,000 new millionaires have been created in the country. And more than 3 crore people have become poor… They don't want fair elections out of fear of losing." he added.

"She [Khaleda] is seriously ill but this inhuman government wants to send her back to jail," he said.

Meanwhile, BNP leaders alleged that at least 15 leaders and activists of the party were injured in two attacks during the road march.

Emran Saleh Prince, BNP organising secretary, alleged that their vehicles came under attack by ruling party men in Ishwarganj upazila of Mymensingh around 3:00pm. He said the attackers vandalised three microbuses in front of the Bhuiyan filling station.

Contacted, Md Mustahibur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Ishwarganj Police Station, said a couple of motorbikes were damaged.

Asked about AL activists' involvement in the attack, he said police have not received any complaints.

The second attack, according to the BNP leaders, took place when the motorcade was passing the Abdul Jabbar intersection and KR Market area of the Bangladesh Agricultural University.

They said two microbuses were vandalised by Chhatra League activists. 

However, Taifur Rahman, president of BAU unit of BCL, denied the allegation.