DHAKA NEWS
Dhaka, Mar 20 Opposition leader Khaleda Zia has said there will be no elections in the country without a 'non-party' caretaker government.
"Either the elections will be held under a non-party caretaker government, or there will be no elections," said Khaleda Zia towards the end of her about two-hour speech delivered on the thanksgiving motion on the president's speech on Tuesday.
"If there is no election, you (the current government) will be forced out of power. People have not accepted the 15th constitutional amendment and they will not accept any election without a caretaker system," said Khaleda two days after she returned to parliament after a long absence of 83 days.
She also referred to a ruling MP's recent interpretations of the court order, basing on which the 15th amendment was effected. He had said the order did not provide any scope for reinstating the caretaker government system.
"Don't confuse people with wrong interpretations," she said.
"Awami League knows its popularity has touched nadir and they cannot make it through a fair election. So, they (Awami League) want to cling to power by indulging in tactics."
She also said electronic voting machine (EVM)-based elections would not be accepted as it is controversial globally. She also asked for a credible Election Commission.
Other issues the opposition leader spoke about include division of the Dhaka City Corporation, inflation, lack of job opportunities, rise in prices of essentials, border killings, journalist couple's killing, corruption, 'politically-motivated' promotion of government staff and Awami League's repression on media and journalists 'for telling the truth'.
She also alleged that AL assumed power with help from Fakhruddin and Moinuddin-led government and through rigging.
Khaleda maintained that in the three years since the current government assumed power, student wing of the ruling party, Bangladesh Chhatra League, clashed over 350 times, killing opposition activists and its own party activists.
She also castigated the government for 'using police as a political tool, kidnapping political leaders and getting them killed secretly by RAB'.
The opposition leader also regretted for not being able to thank the president while speaking on the thanksgiving motion on his speech, as he had failed to rise above his political identity.
"The president's speech has become nothing but the manifesto of the party from which he comes…," said Khaleda.
She congratulated the government and the people in the foreign ministry for winning the battle against Myanmar over maritime boundary dispute. She, however, claimed that the success was an outcome of the continuation of the process initiated by her government earlier.
Ruling party lawmakers reacted to very few comments as Khaleda went on with her speech.
At one stage, speaker Abdul Hamid said, "If you want to say everything in your maiden attendance at parliament and others start following your example, it will become very difficult for an aged man like me to carry on like this."
She left the House immediately as soon as she finished her speech.
"Either the elections will be held under a non-party caretaker government, or there will be no elections," said Khaleda Zia towards the end of her about two-hour speech delivered on the thanksgiving motion on the president's speech on Tuesday.
"If there is no election, you (the current government) will be forced out of power. People have not accepted the 15th constitutional amendment and they will not accept any election without a caretaker system," said Khaleda two days after she returned to parliament after a long absence of 83 days.
She also referred to a ruling MP's recent interpretations of the court order, basing on which the 15th amendment was effected. He had said the order did not provide any scope for reinstating the caretaker government system.
"Don't confuse people with wrong interpretations," she said.
"Awami League knows its popularity has touched nadir and they cannot make it through a fair election. So, they (Awami League) want to cling to power by indulging in tactics."
She also said electronic voting machine (EVM)-based elections would not be accepted as it is controversial globally. She also asked for a credible Election Commission.
Other issues the opposition leader spoke about include division of the Dhaka City Corporation, inflation, lack of job opportunities, rise in prices of essentials, border killings, journalist couple's killing, corruption, 'politically-motivated' promotion of government staff and Awami League's repression on media and journalists 'for telling the truth'.
She also alleged that AL assumed power with help from Fakhruddin and Moinuddin-led government and through rigging.
Khaleda maintained that in the three years since the current government assumed power, student wing of the ruling party, Bangladesh Chhatra League, clashed over 350 times, killing opposition activists and its own party activists.
She also castigated the government for 'using police as a political tool, kidnapping political leaders and getting them killed secretly by RAB'.
The opposition leader also regretted for not being able to thank the president while speaking on the thanksgiving motion on his speech, as he had failed to rise above his political identity.
"The president's speech has become nothing but the manifesto of the party from which he comes…," said Khaleda.
She congratulated the government and the people in the foreign ministry for winning the battle against Myanmar over maritime boundary dispute. She, however, claimed that the success was an outcome of the continuation of the process initiated by her government earlier.
Ruling party lawmakers reacted to very few comments as Khaleda went on with her speech.
At one stage, speaker Abdul Hamid said, "If you want to say everything in your maiden attendance at parliament and others start following your example, it will become very difficult for an aged man like me to carry on like this."
She left the House immediately as soon as she finished her speech.
