The BNP chairperson, Khaleda Zia, on Tuesday mocked the Awami League’s avowed policy for ‘change’ saying they had begun it through ‘killing, violence and grabbing’.

Khaleda made the remarks without naming the Awami League as she visited the family of slain Jatiyatabadi Swechchha-sebak Dal leader Nazrul Islam at their Purana Paltan Line residence in the evening. She prayed for the departed soul.

She expressed concern over repression on and killing of her party activists after the December 29 polls and denounced the ‘politics of vengeance’.

Nazrul Islam, president of Ward 56 Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at Bijaynagar on Monday. His younger brother Iqbal Hossain claimed that political rivals were behind the killing. Some local activists of the Awami Juba League had threatened to kill his brother, he alleged.

Khaleda went to Nazrul’s home at about 7:00pm and stayed there for about half an hour.

BNP leaders Rafiqul Islam Mia, Mirza Abbas, Fazlul Huq Milan, Habibunnabi Khan Sohel, Chhatra Dal president Azizul Bari Helal and general secretary Shafiul Bari Babu were present.