DHAKA: BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Wednesday claimed that the national crisis created by the January 5 national elections is grave now.

“The January 5 national election has turned into the greatest farce in the history of the country. The problem that was created through that election is crystallizing,” she said.

She made the allegation while addressing a press conference, the third after the January 5 general election, at her Gulshan political office in city.

Alleging that the language of politics has become polluted, the BNP chairperson also said, “The language you are using now won’t bring good results in the future,” adding “look before you leap”.

She further alleged they wanted to “minus” me but only people of the country can do that.

Criticising the RAB she said, “They are behaving like mercenaries.

Khaleda Zia said the existence of Bangladesh as a state would be threatened if we cannot disperse situation that emerged in the country now.

However, former premier placed seven-point demand so that the country can have a free, fair, inclusive and contested general election.

The points are the general election must be held under a non-partisan government so that all the political parties can have a level playing filed for participating in the election.

The Election Commission (EC) has to be reformed by taking names of honest, impartial and efficient people from all the parties before the announcement of general election so that necessary changes can be brought in the Representation of the People Order (RPO). All the partisan officials from the election commission secretariat and filed level has to be withdrawn so that the impartial role of law enforcement agency and administration and implementation of acts related to elections can be ensured. The mistakes in voter list have to be rectified.

Jatiya Sangsad and cabinet will be annulled with an immediate effect after the announcement of election date and the non-partisan government will take charge with the consent of all the contending parties.

Armed forces personnel have to be sent around the country endowing magistracy power to them immediately after the announcement of election date so that they can assist the civil administration in holding peaceful and free and fair elections.

Special drives have to be conducted to detain marked terrorists and recovering illegal arms. All the partisan officials in administration and law enforcement agency have to be identified and not allowed from discharging duties.

All the political prisoners have to be released and all the false cases have to be withdrawn against political leaders and activists.

All the private television channels, newspapers have to be reopened. All the journalists including Mahmudur Rahman have to be released.

The former Prime Minister of the country, in her speech, also slammed the administration and government and Chhatra League for not allowing BNP-led 20-party to holding rally in Gazipur.

Khaleda Zia also said, “Incumbent government has imposed the rule of one-party upon the countrymen and snatching the youth’s franchise rights.”

She also claimed that the government is not paying heed to countrymen’s demand of an inclusive election under a non-party caretaker government.

Earlier, she conveyed New Year greetings to the journalists and countrymen and paid respect to the freedom fighters before starting her speech.

Acting BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, standing committee member Dr RA Gani, Barrister Zamiruddin Sircar, LDP Chairman Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed Bir Bikram, Jamaat executive committee member Redwan Ullah Shahedi, Islami Oikya Jote Chairman Abdul Latif Nejami and Khelafat Majlis Chairman Maulana M Ishaque were among others present at the press meet.

BDST: 2145 HRS, DEC 31, 2014

** ‘Political situation in grave crisis’