Govt will be out by next budget: Oli

Sat, Jul 30th, 2011 6:23 pm

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Dhaka, July 30 (bdnews24.com) -- A day after joining hands with BNP, Liberal Democratic Party chief Oli Ahmed turned on a dime predicting that the current government will be gone by the next budget.

"We had ardently supported Awami League for the last two years. But they've kicked our torso. Even the throne of Allah has been rocked by our cries," he said at a meeting of the party rank and file at a hotel in the capital on Saturday.

After a meeting with BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Friday night, the LDP chief briefed journalists of their decision to work together against the government.

A former member of BNP's standing committee, Oli Ahmed deserted the party on Oct 26, 2006, just a day before the previous four-party ruling coalition had stepped down.

He then launched the LDP along with former president A Q M Badruddoza's Bikalpadhara. But the coalition did not last and they chose their own ways.

Oli told the party's grassroots workers that he went to speak with Khaleda in order to reduce the gap between the two parties.

"I haven't met her to bargain but to reduce the political distance created over the past 10 years. Our leaders are discussing the next steps to protest. The distance between us has already been narrowed down."

Disclosing that there had been an invitation for talks from Awami League president Sheikh Hasina, he said, "I told them that this is not possible to be with you."

Claiming himself the first title winner as a freedom fighter, Oli said, "The country is going through a deep crisis…it's my duty as a freedom fighter to salvage the country from the crisis."

Representatives of the party from 40 districts took part in the programme, where Oli presented a 21-point proposal.

The proposals include strengthening the president's power, strengthening the judiciary, the Election Commission and the Anti-Corruption Commission, and annulment of the 15th amendment to the constitution.