The New Nation - Internet Edition

Feni Correspondent

BNP Chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia yesterday warned of dire consequences of foiling the forthcoming parliamentary elections on December 29.

She ruled out any possibility of retreating from the polls race.

"Conspiracies are on to spoil the polls and BNP has no intention to abstain from contesting the polls, " she said while speaking to a huge crowd to a rally at Feni Pilot High School ground.

She also conducted election rally in her home district where she is contesting election from Feni-1, one of three constituencies she was running in the election. She also addressed wayside meetings in Fulgazi Bazar, Munshirhat, Chhagalnaiya and Parshuram. She said that there was an attempt to kill her in Chandina.

"The conspirators were not successful because if Allah wants to keep anyone alive, no one can harm him or her, " she added and thanked the security officials for ensuring her safety.

She warned the government that people of the country would not tolerate vote rigging and attempts to foil the elections.

" We should be alert and if the election is subverted an irreparable damage will be done to the country," she mentioned.

She urged the government to maintain neutrality and ensure a level playing field for all parties participating in the polls.

Rejecting the rumour by a section that BNP does not want to participate in the election, Begum Zia said BNP as well as the four-party alliance has no intention to withdraw from the coming race.

"Those who are jealous at the growing popularity of four-party alliance are involved in malicious propaganda against BNP, " she said and alleged a particular party was hatching conspiracy against the four-party alliance.

Mentioning the growing popularity of BNP, Khaleda said " Inshallah, people of the country would vote BNP like in 1991 and 2001".

She called upon the voters to reject those involved in conspiracy against the people and the development of the country.

"Those who are conspiring to turn us into a subservient nation must be voted out in the forthcoming polls," she added.

She said the BNP has prevailed over the caretaker government to lift the state of emergency and realise people's demands.

"Some quarters did not like BNP contesting in the elections and had not even demanded the emergency to be lifted," she asserted.

Citing the pictures of the country in the last two years Begum Zia said the economy of the country became stagnant; exports declined and the country was made a market for products of another country.

She said, "We stopped terrorist activities in Feni and would take strict measures to stop terrorist activities across the country. We formed the ACC during our rule and would take actions against those who are real

corrupt if voted to power."

She also wished the Christian community on the eve of the X-Mass

being observed today.

She also said that the harassment of people in the name of preventing corruption need to be stopped and the arrest of those really corrupt ensured.

Mentioning the development activities initiated during the rule of BNP, Khaleda Zia said that a notable progress ranging from expansion of education to industrialisation was made during the BNP government.

"We allowed girl education free up to higher secondary level and we promise to raise it to the degree level," she added.

She said that people of different religions were able to observe their religious festivals without fear and intimidation during the BNP rule.

Earlier Khaleda left her cantonment residence on Tuesday for two-day election tour of the southeast. She addressed public meetings at Munshiganj, Comilla, Luxmipur, Noakhali and stopped overnight at Feni.

Begum Zia was scheduled to address election rally in Chittagong. But her tour in the port city was cancelled following the arrest of two suspected militants in Comilla with hand-made grenades on Tuesday.

2 more grenades

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Masud and Naim - arrested on Tuesday were taken to the RAB headquarters in Dhaka for interrogation.

The elite force members continued massive operation at Nabiabad and Barakamta to hunt down the militants involved with the Tuesday's incident.

Earlier, on Tuesday evening, RAB exchanged gunfire with a group of militants and arrested two of them with three grenades in Debidwar upazila, about 30kms west of Comilla district town.