BAGERHAT, Feb 1: BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia today urged The people not to cast vote for those who, what she said, betrayed the nation, snatched away people's rights and sold out country's independence, reports UNB.

"Don't vote for the betrayers and enemies of independence", she told a huge public meeting at ihc outer stadium here this afternoon, on the fourth day of her five-day election tour to the southern districts. .

Presided over by local BNP President Zahidur Rahman. Ihc meeting was also ad-< dressed by former Home Minister ASM Mustaflzur Rahman (BNP-nominec for Bagcrhat-2) and Advocate

Muzaffar Hossain.

Earlier, hundreds of enthusiastic party supporters carrying portraits of (ate Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia, converged at the venue of the meeting to listen to their leader.

Begum Zia said, "people have branded a political party as a national betrayer as it participated in 1986 election under Ershad disregarding commitment to the people".

"This particular political party signed an agreement of slavery with a neighbouring country and introduced one parly rule for making the country a subservient state", the BNP chief said adding that the people fought war of fndc-pcndencc not to become slave? of others.

Begum Zia said those cannot be the friends of the people who In 198) welcomed the martial law. forged entente with Ershad, and enjoyed all facilities of the past regime.

Blaming Awam! League for cooperating with the government of President Ershad, she said "Ershad and the leaders of that party arc equally betrayers".

The BNP leader also painted a grim picture of Awami League regime saying this party had done nothing good for the people.

She said this party had snatched the right of all political parties by introducing BKSAL rule, gagging the press, and putting thousands of people behind the bars in the name of Justice.

"People died of starvation, bodies were buried wrapped tn banana leaves during their so called Golden Era. People do not believe In the Awamltc democracy which was rejected in the elections held in 1978, 1979", she said.

Referring to Special Powers Act introduced by Awami league in 1974 and torture of private bahinls, Begum Zia said this party neglected the armed forces and created its own. bahinl for their selfish goals.

Criticising Awami League for terming BNP rule as "autocratic", Begum Zia obliquely said Sheikh I lasina had received back her paternal properties from President Zia's government. Even the politics of Awami League was resumed during BNP's rule, she said.

In an oblique reference to Jamaat-e-l*iaml.?he said this party would not be able tt do politics and continue their normal activities if Awami league comes to power.

She urged them to cooper-ale with BNP and strengthen the hands of nationalist forces to safeguard Independence, establish democracy, and resolve people's problems.

If you (Jamaal) love the country and Want io do politics, establish' democracy and keep "Btsmtllahfr Kahmanir Rahim" I" the. conBtltUttoO. conic wtth f|i. nationalist forces", Khaleda said.

Begum Khaleda Zia visited separately the homes of sha-heed Maharaj and Selim here yesterday.

Begum Zia talked to their family members and gave them some money.

She also assured them that if BNP goes to power, the two families would be rehabilitated property.

Maharj and Sc^m were killed in ttai dly during the . anll-Brshad movement Iiflc la*l year. - " -