BANGLADESH NEWS
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia said on Sunday a specific agenda on formation of a caretaker government and a congenial environment are a must for holding a dialogue.
“We'll not sit for talks without a precise agenda. We're ready to join if talks are held on caretaker government structure,” she said while addressing a mass hunger strike at the city's Mahanagar Naya Mancha.
The BNP-led 18-party alliance staged the fasting at all divisional and district headquarters to mount pressure on the government to get back missing BNP leader Ilias Ali, release of its leaders and restoration of caretaker government system.
“Don’t show red eyes as your [government] time is over. Control your party men. You will have to give election under a neutral government or will have to quit power,” Khaleda warned.
She hoped that good sense will prevail upon the government and a formal announcement will come before its June 11 rally.
Khaleda reiterated that no election would be held under present government even they would not accept any election under the incumbent president.
Accusing the prime minister, her family and relatives of indulging in corruption, she claimed that they have evidence of it. “We have documents. Trial would be held in international arena if it is not held in the country."
"According to the documents, you [PM] have no way to prove you and your family innocent,” she told to her archrival Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The former premier broke the seven-hour fasting by sipping juice offered by Saiara Nawal, daughter of BNP leader M Ilias Ali who went missing on April 17 from the capital.
The hunger strike began around 10:40am at the city's Mohanagar Natya Mancha premises with the participation of several thousand leaders and activists. Khaleda reached the venue nearly an hour after the agitation programme began.
Khaleda sat on the stage with many other opposition leaders while workers and supporters stayed in front of the stage. Many opposition supporters except Khaleda and opposition leaders who sat at the stage were found sipping from juice, eating peanuts and smoking.
ILIAS DISAPPEARS
M Ilias Ali, 51, a former lawmaker and BNP organising secretary of Sylhet Division, and his driver went missing while returning to his Banani residence in the early hours of April 18.
His car was found abandoned in Banani with all its four doors wide open, giving an impression that Ilias was abducted.
33 LEADERS SENT TO JAIL
BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and 32 other high-profile opposition leaders landed in jail on May 16 after a Dhaka court rejected their bail prayers in connection with an arson case.
BNP standing committee members Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, MK Anwar, ASM Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah, Mirza Abbas, Goyeshwar Chandra and former DCC mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka were among the leaders sent to jail. They had surrendered to the court and sought bail.
The BNP, a few hours later, called a countrywide dawn-to-dusk hartal for May 17 demanding unconditional release of its leaders, withdrawal of the cases against them.
Two cases were filed against the BNP-led 18-party alliance for torching a vehicle near the Prime Minister's office and exploding 'bombs' at the Bangladesh Secretariat during hartal on April 29.
CARETAKER ISSUE
BNP has been demonstrating for the reinstatement of the caretaker government system after it was abolished through the 15th amendment to the constitution on May 30 last year.
Since then the BNP has been saying that the party would not join the next polls if caretaker government system is not reinstated.
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