DHAKA: BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia Saturday said the ruling government has only itself to blame for the current anti-government movement that she alleged was fuelled by its repressive measures.

"Now the opposition has no alternative but to lead the anti-government movement as the government failed to keep people’s hopes and aspirations," she said inaugurating her party’s national executive committee meeting at the auditorium of the Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh, in the city.

The National Executive Committee meeting of the main opposition party got underway at 10:45am with Khaleda Zia in the chair. The meeting will continue till 9pm, through daylong deliberations on party rebuilding, shoring up its strength and the tasks of the time they term very crucial.

BNP Secretary-General Khandaker Delwar Hossain, in his welcome speech, urged all to prepare for a “strong movement in protecting the country’s freedom and sovereignty”.

The committee members--Secretary General, Standing Committee Members, Vice-chairmen, chairperson’s Advisory Council members, Senior Joint Secretaries-General, Joint Secretaries-General and Organizing Secretary--are attending the meeting, first after the formation of the new executive body through the recent council session.

BNP’s Executive Committee meeting was last held in September 2005 under the supervision of Tarique Rahman, the then senior Joint Secretary-General of the party.

On January 1 this year, BNP announced names of 386 members of the executive committee after holding the December 8 national council that made Khaleda Zia chairperson again and her elder son Tarique Rahman senior vice-chairman of the party.

BDST: 1410 HRS, JULY 31, 2010