‘Battling begums’ trash the plan to share stage

“Considering the present circumstances it is not possible for us to attend tomorrow’s rally… we decided on refraining from joining the rally,as a peaceful way of creating moral pressure on the government,” Zia told reporters.

The leader of the main opposition party,which has been abstaining from the parliament over a seating arrangement row,said a process of national unity through such events would be possible only if “government creates a congenial atmosphere”.

Often described as “battling begums” of Bangladesh politics,Hasina and Zia met rarely over the past two decades and declined to hold meetings.

Zia’s announcement came a day after Speaker Abdul Hamid said that the two leaders would address the anti-poverty rally at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital.

An All Party Parliamentary Group jointly chalked up the programme named “Stand Up,Take Action,End Poverty Now!” across Bangladesh towards meeting the prime millennium development goal by 2015 set by the United Nations.

Ruling Awami League leader Abdus Shahid termed Zia’s decision as and exposure of her “political bankruptcy” and said “her allegations (against the government) are baseless,cooked-up and fictitious which will create only confusion among people.”

Bangladesh’s media displayed reports on Zia’s denial to join the rally while Samakal newspaper commented “the report that the two leaders will share the same stage to address a rally was dramatic,but announcement that Khaleda Zia would not join Hasina at the rally appeared more dramatic.”

The two leaders had met last month at a function on the Armed Forces Day in Dhaka,Zia also visited Hasina’s residence few months ago after the death of her nuclear scientist husband Wajed Mia.