DHAKA: Top BNP leader Barrister Moudud Ahmed Saturday said the Awami League-led alliance government has to be “toppled” as soon as possible to pave the way for “installing a democratic government” in the country.   

“The government gave nothing but toll collection and tender manipulation in the last 16 months. The country is not governed by Awami League, it is under the tender league,” he said, in an oblique reference to reported tender grabbing at different places in the country allegedly by a section of the ruling-party people.   

Barrister Moudud, member of the BNP Standing Committee and ex-law minister, made the swinging comments while addressing a roundtable discussion on “Role of Ziaur Rahman in the Bangladeshi Politics” at the National Press Club.

Dhaka City unit of Zia Parishad organized the roundtable marking the 29th death anniversary of the late President.

Prof. Shafiqul Islam chaired the discussion while BNP Chairperson’s adviser Shamsuzzaman Dudu, JAGPA president Shafiul Alam Pradhan and Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal chief Shirin Sultana also spoke.

In response to State Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Kamrul Islam’s disparaging remarks on Ziaur Rahman, the former law minister said the late Zia was short-lived and it does not matter if anyone speaks ill of him.

Bitterly criticizing the government for becoming ‘dependent on aliens’, he said the government is so ‘weak’ for its dependence. “If they were voted to power by the people, they could not hand Chittagong and Mongla seaports over to other countries,” said Moudud.

He justified his party call for hartal on June 27, saying that the strike has been called for the sake of people from all walks of life.     
 
BDST 2000 HRS. MAY 22, 2010.

MM/FA/MUA