DHAKA: Opposition leader Khaleda Zia Monday asked the government to scrap the latest US$ 1 billion credit agreement with India which she likened to a `bond of slavery`.

“BNP never served interest of other countries with people’s hard-earned money. BNP will wage movement after Ramadan if the government does not scrap the treaty,” she said before leading a mass march through the capital.

In her brief speech to a crowd of thousands of leaders and workers at the Paltan ground before the ‘mass procession’, the ex-PM and BNP chairperson said the people of the country wanted to know the “hidden” deals signed with India by Sheikh Hasina, the incumbent premier.

“If these deals were not against the country’s interest, why should you keep it a secret?” she asked, amidst repeated slogans by her workers.  

She dubbed the credit agreement a ‘bond of slavery’ and said the Awami League had signed similar 25-year ‘slavery treaty’ with India to cling to power in the post-independence period.

“But the foreign master could not keep them in power,” she said. “Not even this time will they be able to stay in power for this deal that they signed to please their master.”

Khaleda urged her alliance partners to wage joint movement against the deal, which is reportedly meant for building infrastructures for regional connectivity, including transit.

She alleged that the government has made parliament like “fish market” and “zoo”. “The country has no parliament now. We have come to the street to speak for the people.”

Begum Zia castigated the government for “breaking” pre-election pledges.

“Gas-water-power crises are at the peak. Price hike has made life difficult for people while law-and-order situation has deteriorated drastically,” she told her audience.

She asked the government to step down if they fail to control the price hike of essentials and power crises.

Bitterly criticising the ruling party for what she said ‘politicising the administration’ the opposition leader said the administration has become dysfunctional as qualified officials were either sacked or made OSD.

Khaleda urged the officials not to give up hope and serve with honesty. She said she will return their jobs with all salary arrears and benefits if BNP returns to power.

BDST 2045 HRS AUGUST 9, 2010