The BNP would repeal the just passed Public Safety Act If voted lo power, its chairperson Khaleda Zia pledged yesterday.

"We consider this repressive law as contrary to the Constitution. to the existing laws and to the fundamental human rights. If voted to power, we will first repeal this law." she said at a press conference yesterday afternoon at her 29 Minto Road official residence.

The BNP chief said that the people of the country would not accept the Act because It was a black law. hurriedly passed in the Jatiya Sangsad in the absence of the opposition legislators.

The United Nations In its anti-repression convention has adopted a decision that no member country will introduce such law which may curb people's fundamental rights, but this government went for the black law even after signing the convention on October 1998. she said.

The BNP chairperson claimed that the new law was more repressive and dangerous than (he previously Introduced Special Powers Act.

"Since the introduction of the one-party BKSAL system, the law was (he worst in the country's history." she added.

She recalled' that the party introduced the Special Powers Act on February 9. 1974 and brutally repressed the political opponents through abuse of power

Since coming to power again, the party (Awami League) has unleashed a reign of terror on the people across the country through abuse of the SPA

Citing example of blatant abuse of the SPA. Khaleda said the government arrested 10.700

people across the country only in 1999 and the jails are crammed with opposition leaders and activists.

She said that the Public Safely Act was Introduced In addition to the SPA to intensify the government's repression on Ihe opposition.

Khaleda who is also the leader of the opposition said this anti-human rights law would not only snatch away people's fundamental rights but also create a serious tension in the political arena and disrupt peace and stability.

The government tn its last 44 months of rule has filed over 10.000 false cases against the leaders and activists of the BNP and other opposition parties, and jailed thousands of others, she pointed out.

The former prime minister apprehended tbat thousands of people would be harassed and sent lo prison when the law took effect. She feared it would lead to deterioration of political situation.

"We think that harassment, repression and torture on political opponents and innocent people will increase manifold and public safety will be further disrupted. The law will be used as a political weapon wl “n made effective," she said.

By introducing the black law when the whole nation was united in the one-point movement. the government actually displayed its autocratic attitude. Khaleda said.

She said the new law was introduced primarily to oppress the opposition activists, prevent them from getting bail, keep them in prison for an indefinite period and hold all elections, including the next

From page 1 national polls, unilaterally. The government Introduced the repressive law at the end of Its tenure Just to arrest opposition activists before the polls so that it could return to power through massive rigging, she said.

The BNP chief said all sorts of criminal activities can be tried under the existing laws, adding that terrorism, hijacking. killing, mugging and toll extortion could be stopped II ‘he terrorists of the ruling party were arrested.

‘Country’s existing laws are not being applied against the ruling party terrorists. Certainly, the motive of the introduction of the new law is to ha-•rass the opposition."

Section 16 of the new law is aimed to deprive the people from getting ball from the court during the trial period, she said.

‘This law also prohibits granting of bail even to the elderly. women and sick people. Section 13 and 18 of the law are not realistic and these do not ensure proper trial."

Khaleda said section 13, 15, 16 and 18 reflected the government's lack of respect for the I Judiciary and its intention to I curb the independence of the Ju-

diciary.

In the new law. she said there was also reflection of the adverse remarks of the prime minister and home minister made about the judiciary earlier.

The BNP chairperson called upon all ■ opposition parties, professional bodies, mass organisations. cultural wings, human rights organisations and the countrymen to build up resistance against the black law and those who formulated it.

She asked the government to immediately withdraw the law and accept the opposition's one-point demand.

Replying to a question, she said the opposition parties refrained from attending parliament sessions because the government had vitiated the atmosphere in the House.

"We have refrained from attending parliament sessions, but not boycotted it permanently. We have already informed the Speaker to accept our demands and create conducive atmosphere in the Sangsad." she added.

To another question, Khaleda said the prime minister after the collapse of a power tower and recovery of so-called rocket launcher told the par-

liament that there were adequate evidence in her hand against the opposition leaders, but Uli date she failed to present any before the nation.

Khaleda Zia further said the BNP government had abolished a portion related to the press of the SPA and taken steps to abolish the whole law. but could not complete the task because of non-cooperation from the then opposition.

Replying to a question directed to Khaleda Zia on US President Bill Clinton's visit to Bangladesh on March 25. BNP secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said the US government was vocal against violation of human rights.

He hoped that the US government would speak about human rights violation in Bangladesh prior to Clinton's visit.

The US government was fully aware about gross violation of human rights in the country and it would definitely ask the Bangladesh government to stop violation of human rights, ne added.

Welcoming the US President In Bangladesh. Bhuiyan hoped that the government would withdraw the black law prior to his visit.