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Meeting marking anniversary of Feb 27 polls

Mandate, not mercy, is source of our power: Khaleda

By Staff Correspondent
Prime Minister Khaleda Zia has accused those defeated in last February's polls of acting In a desperate manner, trying to create disturbances.
Dismissing opposition claims that their support has been helping her government sustain In power, the BNP chairperson said: "People voted BNP to power, we did not require anybody's mercy, and we will remain in power with the people's support".
She was addressing a large gathering In Ganatantra Square in the city yesterday marking the first anniversary of the February 27 general elections which her party won.
In an oblique reference to Awami League Begum Zia, the
chairperson of the ruling party, said that a party had supported the ousted autocratic regime when It capture power and helped It cling to power for nine years through participating poll* under the regime.
"It is BNP which relentlessly fought agninst the autocratic rulers along with the people who voted ft (BNP) to power. We are not afraid of any quarter* threat since the people arc still with us", she said.
BNP's youth wing Jatiya-tabadi Jubo Dal organised the meeting.
Jubo Dal President and Mayor of the Dhaka City Corporation Mirza Abbas, MP
chaired the meeting. Among others. BNP Secretary General and LORD and Cooperatives Minister Abdus Salam Talukdcr. Vice-President and Social Welfare and Women Affair* Minister Tariqul Islam, Joint Secretary General and Works Minister Rafiqul Islam. Jubo Dal Secretary and State Minister for Forest and Environment Coycshwnr Roy. Farida Hassan MP. Burqatullah Bhulu, MP. Salahuddln Ahmed MP. DUCSU General Secretary Khalrul Kabir Khokon. A number of Jubo Dal leaders also addressed the meeting.
The Prime Minister warned those trying to create disturbances' in the way of consolldating democracy, restored through a bloody struggle by | the people. "People arc ready to resist and punish those who would resort to terrorism and anarchy to foil the process of institutionalising democracy," she remarked.
In her )H-niinutc speech. Begum Zia reminded thril the country was liberated through a long struggle that started with the language Movement and people of al) spheres of life sacrificed for the independence of the country.
"Countrymen hoped freedom in all aspects in an Independent country. But democracy was destroyed soon after the Liberation. They shed blood again to restore democracy so it is now everybody's responsibility to work for establishing rights of the people." the PM stated.
The Prime Minister said she was optimistic that her government would be abk- lo lead the country towards self-reliance If peoples support continued. She said her government Inherited a shattered economy.
UNB adds: Barrister Abdus Salam Talukdcr cautioned the people against those who once-established one-party rule In the name of democracy and again resorted lo creating eon-fusion about the democratic government.
Tariqul Islam said Awaml League was now demanding trial of Jamaal leader Colam Azam but had sought his sup-porrbefore joining the I9H6 election under the autocratic regime of Ershad.
Barrister Ranqu) Islam Minh said the* BNP government was determined lo establish an exploitation-free society.
In his prcsldchtlal speech. Mirza Abbas demanded severe punishment to deposed president Ershad for his misdeeds.
A procession was brought out after the rally, which paraded city thoroughfares and dispersed al Kakrail.