People to vote against BNP-Jamaat's sabotage in next polls: Matia

Awami League Presidium Member and Agriculture Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury yesterday said the countrymen will give verdict in the next general polls against the sabotage of BNP-Jamaat carried out to oust an elected government and thwart the election.

"Democracy remains in the country and it will continue in future too. The countrymen will give verdict against BNP-Jamaat as they launched arson attack, sabotage and killed many innocent people," she told a public rally at Dhanmondi 32 in front of Bangabandhu Bhaban. 

Dhaka North City Awami League arranged the rally marking the Victory Day of Democracy as the party has observed the day across the country amid different programmes.

Matia said BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has no sense of courtesy as she did not meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when she went to her Gulshan office to console the death of her youngest son Arafat Rahman Koko.

"If Begum Khaleda Zia has any courtesy she could not make rough behavior with the country's Prime Minister," the Awami League presidium member said.

She said Begum Zia invited Indian President Pranab Mukherjee to Bangladesh during her visit to the neighboring country. "But when Pranab Mukherjee came to Bangladesh, BNP patronized Jamaat to call a hartal and explode crude bombs," Matia said.

About the US Secretary of State John Kerry's visit to Bangladesh, Matia said Kerry expressed his support for the Liberation War in 1971 though his country had played negative role.

"But Begum Zia went to lodge complain to Kerry. She did not get anything by making complain. She will also face the same result in the next general election," the minister said.

Speaking on the occasion, AL Presidium Member and Public Administration Minister Syed Ashraful Islam said there is no necessity of caretaker government or army if democratic norms and values continue.

"In a democrat system, a country cannot go ahead without proper practice of democracy. So, those who boycotts election without any valid reason, they do not want democracy," he said.

Boycotting of election is very sorrowful in democratic system, the senior Awami League leader said Begum Zia has perpetrated killing of innocent people in the name of boycotting election.

The minister said Army will bring BNP to power coming from the cantonment in decorated vehicles, it will never happen. "So, election is the only way to go to power," Syed Ashraf said.

The minister said the major target of Begum Khaleda Zia is to thwart the well-established democracy after a long period of military ruling.

"If you want to go to power, you will have to come in field and seek votes from the people," he said.

AL Presidium Member Advocate Sahara Khatun, Joint General Secretary Dr Dipu Moni, Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Office Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap and Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal addressed the rally, among other. Dhaka City North Awami League President AKM Rahmat Ullah chaired the rally.

Centering the January 5 national polls of 2014, the BNP-Jamaat alliance created unprecedented anarchy throughout the country unleashing vandalism, destruction, killing, subversive acts in the name of non-stop siege and hartal programmes.

Source: BSS