Dhaka: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former army chief Moeen U Ahmed were directly involved in Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) — now Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) — Munity in 2009, accused Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia. BNP chief made the comment while speaking at an event held at Riverbank Hotel, in London’s Central Park Plaza as the chief guest on Sunday.

Khaleda Zia said, ‘Fifty seven dedicated and patriotic defence officers were killed on that day. Hasina and Moeen knew everything. Colonel Gulzar sought help from the army chief till the evening. If army personnel could get inside Pilkhana, the victims could be saved. It was a planned killing.’

During the bloody mutiny in the force’s Pilkhana headquarters on 25-26 February 2009, BDR (now BGB) rebels killed 57 army officers and 17 civilians.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia left Dhaka for London on 15 September this year for her health check-up and eye treatment.

Khaleda Zia in her long speech said to the gathered crowd, mainly BNP activists and followers: ‘You are living in a country (England) which is known as Mother of Democracy. I’m here on a personal visit.’

‘I was detached from my family for quite a long time. Though I have come to London only to spend time with my family, I couldn’t help meeting you.

‘As I’m with my family after a long time, they don’t want me to leave them. This is the reason behind my delayed tour in London. But, I need to return to Bangladesh. I’ll eventually. Many decisions are pending over there,’ said the BNP chief.    

Towards the expatriates BNP chairperson said, ‘I appreciate you are you concerned and worried for the motherland. I like many things about this country. A lot to be learned from the country’s law and order practice. It would be great if we could implement those in our country. First of all, we need to practice order, as there are lack of order and unity in Bangladesh.’

Lady Hitler

The former prime minister said, ‘I won’t tell you what happened after the liberation of Bangladesh as you are already aware of it. You are also observing what is currently happening in Bangladesh. The people of Bangladesh are not having good days. Good governance is absent in Bangladesh. I don’t want to term Sheikh Hasina wrongheaded. She wants to install monarchy in Bangladesh.’

Terming Sheikh Hasina as Lady Hitler, the BNP chief said, ‘The administration does what she orders. The administration is ineffective as it has been politicised. Many qualified officers have been removed and more than 400 officials have been made OSD (officer on special duty). They cannot complete the ADP’s project. Share from budgets is being asked in big projects.’

About Anti-Corruption Commission

Criticising the Anti-Corruption Commission, the BNP leader said, ‘The commission overlooks many corruptions happening out there, but they only look upon Khaleda Zia’s family for corruption.’

Dirty Dhaka

Khaleda Zia said, ‘Dhaka City is ill-suited for people’s movement. The city is so dirty that it ranks in the list of worst liveable cities. The dustbins of the city are overflowing with waste.’

BNP United

The BNP chairperson said, ‘BNP is united and it will stay united. We participated in all local government elections and sealed victory in previous city polls in Sylhet, Rajshahi, Khulna, Gazipur. But you are aware of what happened later in two Dhaka city elections. I was attacked during the election campaigns. We boycotted the two Dhaka city and Chittagong city polls when we heard our activists were not allowed in the polling centres.’

‘Many people said BNP would win in the 5-January elections if they participated. But it’s a wrong perception as their (pointing the current government) people were at the administration and the result would be the same what happened in the city polls. Then we couldn’t term the current government is illegal and foreign countries would validate the government. Now, they yet to get any validity from any country’, she added.

The BNP chief said, ‘It’s not possible to split BNP. Fakhruddin-Moeen Uddin failed to divide the party. They tortured Tarique Rahman and Koko remanding them in law enforcers’ custody. Koko was scared and passed his time with the frightening experience.’

Conspiration to lodge me in jail

Khaleda Zia said, ‘They are trying to hold elections sending all BNP leaders and activists, including me in jail. Police shot BNP leaders and activists. The illegal government is planning to remove BNP from the scene.’

Benzir to be trialled

The former prime minister said, ‘Benzir, incumbent Rapid Action Battalion chief, will be brought in trial as he killed many people.’

She also demanded withdrawal of RAB from the peace missions of United Nations.

About Militancy

‘Sheikh Hasina told United Nations there is militancy in Bangladesh. But they now are denying the claim. The rise of militancy was rocked in their regime. The attacks on Udichi in Jessore, Ramna Batamul, Gopalganj, CPB rally were operated when they were in power. We arrested all militants and brought them into trial,’ Khaleda Zia said.

The BNP chairperson said, ‘People from no religions are safe now in Bangladesh. RAB-Police are involved with the arson attacks around the country. Bullets supply to the elite force has to be stopped. Nobody has freedom of speech in the country.’

Khaleda Zia urged Bangladeshi expatriates to write those grave issues in social media.