The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

BNP chairperson's adviser Brig Gen (retd) Hannan Shah yesterday asked the Juba Dal members to remain ready disregarding BNP's unity issue as the party is planning to announce its programmes from the Juba Dal office housed in the BNP central office building now under lock and key.

Addressing a meeting of Juba Dal at the Diploma Engineers Institute marking the Independence Day, he said Khaleda Zia will be released through party programmes if the legal means fail. He said BNP cannot be destroyed through repression as President Zia's ideology could not be erased through his assassination.

"Give elections soon and hand over power. No political party will concede to any hanky-panky. BNP will salvage democracy from conspiracy," Shah said, adding that BNP will launch its programmes soon after BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain's return from New York.

Deploring the keeping of Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina in detention on this year's Independence Day, Shah said there would be a unique celebration if both the former Prime Ministers are released immediately.

The BNP leader said the incumbent government would be made accountable to the people for all of its activities if BNP returns to power.

He questioned how the Finance Adviser can take a loan of Tk 3,500 crore from a foreign bank on hard terms to run the government despite having so many national banks in the country.

Presided over by Juba Dal acting president Mia Mohammad Selim, the discussion was addressed, among others, by BNP leaders Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and Mohammad Shajahan, party acting office secretary Rizvi Ahmed, Juba Dal vice-president Mohibbul Alam Swapan, acting general secretary Adv Abdus Salam, organising secretary Khairul Kabir Khokon and Juba Dal assistant secretary Asiqur Rahman Ahsique.