Opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque said yesterday that his party, BNP would launch movement in protest against oppression and suppression of the present government after holding its national council on December 8.

"After getting ogranised through national council on December 8, BNP will launch tough movement against what he called the government's autocratic attitude towards the opposition," he said at a round table discussion at Jatiya Press Club in the city. National Awami Party (NAP) organised the discussion on "Killing of 28th October: Present Situation of Bangladesh and Perception of 7th November" on the occasion of National Solidarity Day.

Farroque expressed grave concern over the deterioration of law and order.
He said how the government would protect the garment workers if it fails to ensure security of the ruling party MP Tapash. He said, parliament has now been transformed into a place to smear the reputation of the opposition party leaders including Begum Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman. "They (government) don't have any sense of gratitude to the Shaheed president Ziaur Rahman as they said that Ziaur Rahman didn't take part in the Liberation War of 1971," Farroque added.

The opposition chief whip strongly condemned the recent statement of Sheikh Selim who told the parliament that Khaleda was involved in the heinous bomb attack on ruling party MP Tapash. "Sheikh Selim must be tried one day if he can not put forward any proof in favour of his statement against Khalda Zia," warned Farroque. "We must go to the parliament to speak for the people of the country. We didn't tell that we will not go to the parliament within 90 days and we didn't boycott the parliament perpetually," he said in an answer to a question after the discussion.

Echoing Farroque's opinion BNP joint secretary general Abdullah-al-Noman said that the party would announce its countrywide movement after the national council on December 8. He alleged that centering party's national council, the government as well as the Election Commission (EC) are engaged in hatching conspiracy. But the party leaders are committed to hold its council within the time frame at any cost, he added. He severely condemned the cases filed against the members of Zia family. The present government is doing so to tarnish the images of BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman, he said.

"Our party activities are going on in full swing and we do hope we will be successful in holding a fruitful national council on December 8," said Gayeshwar. Responding to a question he said, "We will be able to form most of the convening committee in the next few days." About the BNP reformists he said, "In order to protect themselves from the then caretaker government they became reformists. Actually they are not so what we think about them." Criticising the Awami League's national council he said, "they (AL) have done it within a very short time and it is nothing but a Royal Rally".

-The Independent