Sept 13: Prime Minister Khaleda Zia today said the opposition Awami League is killing its own men, and then calling hartals, in a desperate bid to create issues for subverting the country’s development process.

"When we (government) are doing development, the Awami League, finding no issue, is creating anarchy by killing its own people and calling hartals to hinder the development process," she alleged.

The Prime Minister was addressing a huge public meeting organised on the occasion of Jatiya Party leader Shah Mohammad Abu Zafar joining the BNP at the Boalmari upazila stadium here this afternoon.

Abu Zafar shifted his allegiance to the ruling party along with a large number of other local JP leaders and supporters, including the municipal chairman of Boalmari and 12 other union parishad chairmen of the upazila.

Presided over by local BNP Vice President Khandakar Nasirul Islam, the public meeting was also addressed by KM Obaidur Rahman MP, Minister for Disaster Management Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf, Home Minister Altaf Hossain Chowdhury, Social Welfare Minister Ali Hasan Mohammad Mujahid, Prime Minister’s Political Secretary

Harris Chowdhury and Chowdhury Akmal Ibne Yusuf MP.

Local leaders of the BNP and its front organisations, including Zahurul Huq and Farhad Hossain Chunno, central Juba Dal leaders Moniruzzaman Monir, Ali Akkas Nadeem, Saiful Islam Poto, Mahbubul Huq Pinku and district Chhatra Dal president Mohammad Selim Miah also spoke.

The Prime Minister was accorded a grand reception by her party faithful. On her arrival at the stadium, the supporters of the BNP and its front organisations greeted the party chief releasing hundreds of pigeons and balloons into the air.

In her speech, Begum Zia, pointing to the Awami League, said that the party which could not do any development while in power was now out to hinder the development process.

"Those involved in terrorism will be isolated," she said calling upon the people to stand united against them.

She said that the AL had failed to keep its promise, made while in power of not calling hartal.

Begum Zia said that the Awami League had indulged in looting and terrorism even when it was in power, not to speak of doing any development work.

She asked the people to decide whether to stay with the development process by supporting Shah Mohammad Abu Zafar in future or to take sides with the "looters".

The Prime Minister made a number of development commitments for the area, including construction of buildings for Alphadanaga Degree College and 10 high schools and madrasas.

Happy to see schoolgirls sitting in the audience, Begum Zia reminded that the BNP while in power during 1991-96 had ensured free education up to the primary level.

This time, she said, the BNP-led four-party alliance government has made education for girls free up to the higher secondary level.

She assured that if elected to the next term, the BNP would make education for talented girls free up to the degree level.

"If we invest more in education, we are sure to reap the benefits," she told the crowd.

STAFF REPORTER, The Independent

Speaker Barrister Muhammad Jamiruddin Sircar yesterday claimed that the Jatiya Sangsad was functioning though the opposition was staying out of the House.

He, however, urged the main opposition Awami League (AL) to join the session for the sake of democracy.

The Speaker was talking to the Chief Whip of the Opposition Vice Principal Abdus Shahid, who called on him to discuss various political issues, at the Speaker's office.

"The ministers are answering to the questions of the MPs and the question-answer session is also taking place usual," the Speaker told the Opposition Whip, sources said.

In reply to a question of the Speaker, Shahid said that AL was interested to join the Jatiya Sangsad, but there was no proper environment to speak on the floor. Today AL would decide whether it would join the session, he added.

Shahid drew the attention of the Speaker regarding his safety and that of his family members as some unidentified callers were demanding Tk 10 lakh as extortion. The Speaker assured him of all possible help in this regard, source said.

The Speaker requested AL to attend the forthcoming meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, scheduled to be inaugurated on October 4.

Whip Rezaul Bari Dina was also present at the meeting.