Election must by next year: Khaleda

Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is now in London, on Friday night told her party leaders of the UK chapter that general election in Bangladesh must be held by 2016.
‘The election must be held at any cost within the next year,’ Khaleda was quoted by the United Kingdom unit BNP president MA Malique as saying.
The BNP chairperson made the remarks while she had a meeting with leaders of the party unit at the residence of Tarique Rahman, her elder son, at Kingston in London.
Khaleda, who left Dhaka for London on Tuesday for her eye treatment, is now staying in residence of Tarique, senior vice-chairman of BNP, who has been in London since September 2008, the party sources said.
During the meeting, which lasted for about one and a half hour, also discussed Bangladesh’s present political situation, absence of press freedom and freedom of speech of people and ongoing reorganisation process of BNP, according to Malique.
The UK BNP president said Khaleda said some media houses, despite the government’s pressure, were publishing news of BNP and its allies.
Some media houses also published news of Tarique Rahman despite government’s restriction on publishing his statement, he said.
Tarique Rahman was present at the meeting.
In reply to a question, Malique said the BNP chairperson would visit her physician for eye treatment on Monday.
UK BNP general secretary Koisor Ahmed and adviser Saiesta Chowdhury, among others, were present at the meeting.

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