Opposition leader Khaleda Zia yesterday asked the government not to pull out army from Betchhari area, bowing to illogical demand of the kidnappers of three foreign nationals.

"Withdrawal of army under pressure of the kidnappers will prove irresponsibility to independence and sovereignty of the country and push the people of that area into deep uncertainty," she said in a statement yesterday.

The BNP chief, however, blasted the government for its failure to rescue the hostages even after 15 days of their abduction by gunmen.

Khaleda, the former Prime Minister who had negotiated peace with the tribal insurgents during her rule but could not strike a deal, set aside government's claim of establishing peace in the hill districts.

She called it a patchy peace deal as the abduction incident proved government claim "baseless". Rather, unrest has Increased there manifold."she said.

She said, "if the government had consulted with opposition parties before signing the accord, the prob-lem would have come to a peaceful and permanent solution."

Ihe former prime minister condemned the abduction ol two Danish and one British national, denouncing it as a "Barbaric and inhuman act".

She demanded immediate rescue of the kidnapped foreigners by any possible means