Bangladesh ex-PM Zia warns of ‘fascists’, calls for elections

Bangladesh's former premier Khaleda Zia on Thursday alleged that ‘fascist collaborators’ are still conspiring to undermine the achievements of the July uprising and called for a national election acceptable to all to restore the democratic system in the country.

Her son and the Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Tarique Rahman, asked the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus to maintain neutrality, saying public doubt over its impartiality continues to grow.

Zia, who served as the premier for three terms, in a pre-recorded video address to her party workers said the ‘fascist collaborators’ remained active in their schemes’ and urged everyone to work together to restore democracy.

“Although I'm in the UK for treatment, I'm always beside you,” she added.