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Khaleda rapped over ISI fund allegation
[Bangla Daily Star] Awami League President Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked her arch rival Khaleda Zia
Three-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ...
 to respond to the allegation that Pakistain's Inter Services Intelligence paid five crore rupees for her campaign during the 1991 parliamentary elections.
The ISI has moved beyond funding Bangladeshi jihadi groups to buying politicians? How exciting, but however will they sustain it after American funds are cut off?
Citing a recent report in the Dubai-based newspaper Khaleej Times, which made the allegation, she said, "To those who resorted to genocide and who had been defeated, you [Khaleda] sold the country [interest] by taking money from those defeated forces in 1971. The people of Bangladesh won't forgive you. Why did you take money from the defeated forces? People want to know. One day you have to answer to the people."

The prime minister was addressing a huge rally before the city's Suhrawardy Udyan to commemorate the historic March 7. It was the first public meeting of Hasina in the capital after she became prime minister in 2009.

Leaders, workers and supporters of the Awami League, its different associated bodies, pro-ruling party organizations, freedom fighters, and different professionals' organizations joined the rally. The ruling party men crowded the area from the Jatiya Press Club to Science Laboratory intersection and New Market to Kakrail.

This was the largest campaign to show off its public support by the ruling party since it assumed power in 2009. Lawmakers of Dhaka and its adjacent districts along with their supporters brought out a procession after the rally from Institution of Engineers' Bangladesh. The procession ended at Bangabandhu Bhaban in Dhanmondi.

Hasina during her speech alleged that the leader of the opposition wanted to protect war criminals. "But I want to say that you [Khaleda] won't be able to protect them...I want to say firmly that the trial of the war criminals will be held on this soil, Inshallah."

She urged all to be aware of those trying to protect the war criminals and sought help from all for completing the trial of war criminals.

Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam at the rally accused the opposition BNP chief Khaleda Zia of being a paid agent and broker of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI). "She has adoration for Pakistain and for this she took 5 crore rupee from the ISI ahead of the 1991 general elections. And for this reason she has been giving utmost importance to Pakistain's interests, putting aside the interests of Bangladesh..."

Ashraf, also LGRD and Cooperatives minister, urged the opposition leader to place the BNP's proposal on the process of holding the next parliamentary elections and give up its "chaotic anti-government programmes".

"Join parliament, place your proposal and sit for discussion on the process of holding the next polls. The Awami League is ready to sit with you," Ashraf made the call.

Thousands of Awami League men started gathering in front of Suhrawardi Udyan around noon with banners, festoons, placards and portraits of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Within three hours the entire road from Shahbagh to Jatiya Press Club turned into a human sea. Bangabandhu's historic March 7 speech was being played on loud speakers as well.

Band parties with drum beaters led processions of different units of the Awami League and its wing organizations to the rally. Some people were seen with painted faces and bodies. A symbolic gallows on a van was taken there where symbolic war criminals were showcased to be hanged. Musicians were singing patriotic songs on trucks decorated like stages. Some party men brought elephants and horses decorated with colourful banners on them that drew the attention of the gathering.

Posted by: Fred 2012-03-08
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=340466