DHAKA: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia on Sunday said the parliament has become a house of clowns.

She came up with the observation while addressing an iftar party organized by Jatiya Party (Zafar) in a city hotel.

The BNP chief said members of the parliament (MPs) now doesn’t discuss about the problems of the people. “It has become the centre of cultural activities,” she said.

“The country needs new leader through a free and fair national election. The incumbent government should be ousted by the election,” she further observed.

Khaleda added: “We invited the ruling party leaders for discussions on the national election but they didn’t pay heed. So, we will start movements against the government after Eid-ul-Fitr.”

The former premier also said, “Only five percent people cast their vote in January 5 election and others 95 percent denied their voting rights. Now they want to enjoy their rights.”

The BNP chief said democracy is now exiled. People of the country live in a confinement. So, they demand an election to get a public representation to the government, she added.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, secretary-general of JP (Zafar) Mostafa Kamal Haidar, BNP standing Committee members Dr RA Gani and Hannan Shah, NDP secretary-general Alamgir Mazumdar, LDP secretary-general Dr Redwan Rahman, scores of diplomats different countries, among others, were present in the program.

BDST: 2240 HRS, JUL 13, 2014