Dhaka, Feb 8 (UNB) - BNP chairperson and Leader of the Opposition Khaleda Zia Monday clearly said her party will raise voice simultaneously inside parliament and out on the street to protest “repression” on journalists, price hike of essentials and pacts signed “against country’s interests”.

She will return to parliament and wants to give some more time to the present government. However, Khaldea would not precisely say when she would be back to the House to end a long standoff.

The former prime minister revealed her party’s strategy while answering various queries and observations made by editors and senior journalists of different national dailies, news agencies and TV channels at a high tea hosted by her at the Lakeshore Hotel in the
afternoon.

It was her fist formal meeting with the media since the promulgation of state of emergency on January 11, 2007 amid a political topsy-turvy over election issues and one-year rule of the Awami
League-led Grand Alliance Government following a democratic transition through the December 29, 2008 polls she lost.

Khaleda said it is not that democracy would remain alive only for joining parliament, at the same time press freedom would have to be protected as it is one of the pillars of the state-known as the fourth estate.

Referring to BNP’s and her personal initiative to cooperate with the government and proposal for discussion on national issues to reach national consensus, the BNP chief noted that friendship does not take place unilaterally, it presupposes initiatives from both sides.

“The government has to be cooperative and show tolerance instead of hostile steps and attitude,” she observed.

Former Prime Minister said journalists and newspapers would have to play courageous role against government’s ‘misdeeds’.

Khaleda deplored that now personal character assassination is going on in parliament where parliamentary parlances are not being practiced. Parliament is being dubbed ‘fish market’ and ‘zoo’ by ruling-party members while one Treasury Bench member termed the
Speaker servant of parliament, she said, striking a note of pessimism.

“There is no control over parliament of the Speaker or of the Leader of the House,” she said and questioned whether there is any healthy environment in parliament.

Even then, Khaleda said, they have decided to go to parliament. “When we have decided to join parliament, they (ruling party) are letting out more indecorous statements. The ruling party doesn’t want opposition BNP to sit in parliament as they are afraid of the opposition’s discussion on the government’s misdeeds. But we said we will go to parliament to speak,” she said.

During the questions and observations, most editors and senior journalists advised BNP to return to parliament to play its constructive role in strengthening democracy. Some suggested them not to go for hartal and destructive programs and to open talks between
the two top leaders-- Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.

Some wanted to know if BNP will give any movement progarmme and its position on India especially against the backdrop of the PM’s visit.

Those who took part in the interactions include Mahfuz Anam, Editor of The Daily Star, Motiur Rahman, Editor of Prothom Alo, Reazuddin Ahmed, Editor of the News Today, Nurul Kabir, Editor of New Age, AMM Bahauddin, Editor of Daily Inqilab, Mahbubul Alam, Editor of The Independent, ABM Musa, columnist, Abed Khan, Editor of Kalerkhantha, Ataus Samad, Editor of the weekly Thikana, Farid Hossain, AP Bureau chief, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury, Editor of Bangladesh Observer, and Shykh Siraj, chief news editor of Channel i, Ruhul Amin Gazi , journalist leader, and Badiul Alam, City Editor of the News Today.

The tea party started at 4:15 pm and continued till 5:55pm amid a political storm in a teacup that signifies a lot in the country’s present context.

BNP chairperson Khaleda, during her about 30-minute concluding speech in reply to the editors and journalists, touched on various points and issues like the past military-backed caretaker government, repression on journalists, price hike of essentials, agreements with India during the PM's recent visit to New Delhi, terrorism, killings, tender-manipulation and extortion by ruling-party men and so on.