We'll bin charter changes: Khaleda

Dhaka, July 13 (bdnews24.com) ? The BNP chairperson has said the recent amendments to the constitution were Awami League's own agenda, so her party will throw them away once in power.

After observing an eight-hour hunger strike on Wednesday, Khaleda Zia said, "We want to say these amendments are Awami manifesto, which will be thrown away the next time the government changes."

She reiterated that BNP would not let any election be held without a caretaker government.

"People will not accept if an election is held by Hasina and Ershad without BNP," she said, naming the heads of two of the ruling allies.

WARNING TO LAWMEN

Khaleda Zia expressed her anger on the 'excesses' of the police and RAB against the opposition.

"This government is not here forever. No one will be able to protect you when this government goes," she said.

She strongly criticised the police attack on the opposition chief whip. "The police should be saluting MPs. Instead, they are kicking democracy with their boots," she said.

Khaleda also warned intelligence agencies, saying, "Intelligence men have tortured our party men in the name of remand. I would tell them to refrain from this, otherwise they will face consequences."

PEOPLE ON HUNGER STRIKE EVERYDAY

The BNP chairperson said that BNP's observance of the eight-hour hunger strike was symbolic. "The people are on hunger strike everyday due to the high prices of essentials," she pointed out.

"We cannot let this government run any longer. We have to bring it down to break the people's hunger strikes," she said.

CORRIDOR NOT TRANSIT

The BNP chairperson demanded that the government make public the contracts made with India.

"The government did not present in parliament any agreement it signed, though the constitution says it must be done within a month striking the deal. On the contrary, they brought an amendment to cancel that provision," she said.

Criticising the transit agreement, she said, "That is not a transit agreement. The government has given India a corridor. The government must let us know what are the gives and takes of this deal."

She criticised the 'undemocratic role' of the government, saying the opposition was not being allowed to hold rallies, processions and other democratic rights.

Khaleda also demanded exemplary punishment to the teachers who sexually abuse students, including the Viqarunnisa Noon School and College teacher Parimal, who was recently arrested for abusing a student.

She went on to recount several incidents of sexual assault by the members of Chhatra League, the ruling party's student wing.

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