Dhaka: Main opposition BNP chief Khaleda Zia on Tuesday defended her decision to boycott Bangladesh`s January 5 polls, accusing the government of "state terrorism" that allegedly resulted in the death of over 240 of her supporters.
The head of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) claimed that the general election had proved polls under her archrival Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could not be credible.
"According to the information collected by the BNP office, 242 individuals have been killed while 60 have simply disappeared as the illegal government is barbarically repressing our party and allies after it came to power through the farcical polls," Zia, a two-time former premier, told a news conference here.
She alleged that leaders and activists of the 19-party opposition alliance fell victim to security forces and Awami League cadres during a month-long period from December 26. "I urge the government to end this state terrorism," she said.
"We did not commit any mistake (by boycotting the polls), rather the incumbent illegal government is at fault."
Zia claimed that if an inclusive election had been held with her party`s participation, the BNP would have won it with a two-thirds majority.
Her comments came a day after newspapers published a survey report which said the ruling Awami League would bag more votes than the BNP if fresh elections were held with the participation of all major parties.
The study, carried out a week after the BNP-led opposition boycotted the polls, found even if the election was fully participatory, 42.7 per cent people would have voted for the Awami League while 35.1 per cent would have preferred the opposition.
US-based watchdog Democracy International carried out the survey during January 11-15.
Asked to comment on the survey, Zia said, "It does not carry any value."
She, however, defended the BNP`s decision to field candidates for upcoming `upazila` or sub-district council elections, saying, "It is a non-party local government polls, which will not change the government."
Asked why the BNP had not yet started a campaign to oust the Awami League government which it claimed is "illegal", Zia admitted her party was not strong and would need "some more days" to be reorganised.
"But this situation will not continue for long, we will (start an anti-government) programme soon...BNP wants a fresh election soon," she said.
Prime Minister Hasina, Zia`s arch-rival, has launched a crackdown aimed at quelling opposition-backed unrest after her victory.
