DHAKA: The ruling Awami League branded BNP Chairperson Begam khaleda Zia’s presentation of shadow budget outside parliament as “anti-constitutional and anti-democratic”.

“As per the Constitution, the budget proposals are to be placed only in parliament,” AL General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said in deprecating the truant opposition’s move bypassing the House.      

Expressing the party view at a news conference at the ruling party chief’s political office at Dhanmondi, the LGRD minister called upon the opposition to join in the ongoing budget session, where the national budget will be placed Thursday.

“We hope they will present their proposals or shadow budget in the parliament. We will weigh their proposals, if positive,” he said.

He also termed Begum Khaleda Zia’s speech at recent press conference “false and baseless”.  

Regarding Khaleda’s demand for trial of 1/11–makers Ashraful said the BNP and the then President Iajuddin Ahmed are to blame for taking the country into that precipice.

“At first the BNP men will have to be brought to trial…we do not want a repeat of 1/11,” said the ruling-party leader.   

BDST: 1414Hrs. June 9, 2010
SK/RT/TSA/SMS/MUA