Lawmakers today termed the BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, a cruel leader, as her activists burnt and killed innocent people by hurling patrol bombs across the country.

Taking part in an unscheduled debate in the House, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu said Khaleda Zia's movement is directly against people, adding, "Khaleda Zia is giving order to kill innocent people and throng patrol bombs on peaceful people."

He said mass people are not involved in the ongoing illegal blockade and hartal. So far 30 innocent people have been killed in the name of hartal-blockade, he said.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed regretted that Khaleda Zia's activists burnt and killed innocent people in the name of blockade and hartal.

"Khaleda Zia will have to answer for her destructive activities like violence, vandalism and killing innocent people," he said.

Tofail informed the House that Khaleda Zia's cadres hurled patrol bombs on schoolteacher and other innocent people as well burnt public transport.

He pointed out that the country's export is increasing defying nationwide blockade and hartal enforced by Khaleda Zia.

Coming down heavily on Khlaeda Zia's illegal activities, senior
parliamentarian Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim told the House that the BNP is a militant organisation, not a political party.

"The BNP is creator of violence and anarchy, because it enforces illegal blockade and hartal across the country and killing innocent people," he said.

People have to resist violence creators and blockade-hartal enforcers across the country and we will not allow them (BNP) to make Bangladesh a 'Taleban and ineffective' country, Selim said.

He said Khaleda Zia enforced illegal blockade and hartal to destroy the country's economy and development, as Bangladesh would be a middle-income country by 2021.

Suranjit Sengupta said,"Democracy is now hostage under anarchy and violence created by BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia. People want their security from terrorism and we have to govern this country by providing security of people" .

"People want to peace and they are in favour of this government under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and its her duty to do,,,,,. and there should be no compromise with terrorism and anarchism, " he added.

Chief Whip ASM Feroz, Awami League member Abdul Matin Khosru, Jatiya Party members Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu and Kazi Feroz Rashid, treasury bench member Advocate Jahangir Kabir Nanak, independent member Haji Mohammad Selim took part in this unscheduled debate lasted for over an hour immediately after the question-answer session chaired by Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury.

BSS/RI