Khaleda ZiaThree-term PM of Bangla, widow of deceased dictator Ziaur Rahman, head of the Bangla Nationalist Party, an apparent magnet for corruption ...
yesterday said those responsible for the recent "genocide" in the country, including the prime minister, would be tried if her party returns to power.
She said her government would then form tribunals to try the police personnel who had been involved in the genocide.
"The prime minister [Sheikh Hasina] is guilty of crimes against humanity. From the government's number one to all responsible for killing 170 people across the country would be tried for committing crimes against humanity," said Khaleda while addressing a rally in front of BNP central office in the capital's Nayapaltan area in the afternoon.
Referring to the Shahbagh movement, she said the government on the one hand was firing bullets on BNP rallies, and on the other hand guarding and feeding atheists and bidhormis [infidels] to divert people's attention from its failures.
She urged the government to refrain from forming so-called platforms [mancha-fancha] and said, "It [govt] will not find the escape when people will form their own mancha."
The leader of the opposition yesterday went to visit her party's central office to have a firsthand experience of the aftermath of Monday's police raid.
Flanked by top party leaders, the BNP chairperson entered the office around 5:47pm. She visited the rooms on the second, third and fourth floors.
About 20 minutes later, she came to the balcony of the first floor and addressed hundreds of leaders and activists gathered on Nayapaltan Road.
In her 13-minute speech, Khaleda also demanded that the government release all detained opposition leaders today. She called upon her party men to enforce hartals on March 18 and 19 across the country if the leaders are not released.