DHAKA: BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday termed the government “illegal” as the people of the country do not have faith and support to the government.

‘The people have no faith and support to the incumbent Awami League and the government has also no responsibility towards the people of the country,” she said.

The former prime minister came up with the observation while addressing a rally organized by Association of Engineers Bangladesh (AEB) with the theme ‘Democracy for Development’, at The Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) in the city.

She also said, “Some 153 lawmakers were elected uncontested. They were not elected by the people.”

Khaleda Zia also claimed: “The government has killed democracy. But no country can develop without democracy.”

Criticising the government, she said, “They have snatched the right of people, plundering the wealth of the country and siphoning money to foreign lands.”

Khaleda Zia also said, “We are asking the government to organize talks … but they must know that the countrymen would not wait for an indefinite period for talks.”

She urged people to join in movements to bring back the democratic system in the country.

With AEB president Engineer ANH Akhter Hossain in the chair, BNP Standing Committee Member Lieutenant General (retd) Mahbubur Rahman, Mirza Abbas, BNP chairperson’s adviser AZM Zahid Hossain, also DAB secretary general, former Vice Chancellor of Jahangirnagar University Mostahidur Rahman and AEB general secretary Harun-ar-Rashid were among others present at the program.

BDST: 1435 HRS, SEP 13, 2014