Dhaka, Jan 15 (IANS): Former Bangladesh prime minister Khaleda Zia said Wednesday the country has been stripped of democracy and urged the country's new government to reach a consensus through resuming dialogue to resolve the ongoing political turmoil.

"Bangladesh has been stripped of democracy and that must return through a movement," the Daily Star quoted Zia as telling journalists in her first media briefing after the formation of the new government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Zia also termed the present government as illegal and alleged that the ruling party violated the constitution.

Bangladesh's 10th parliamentary elections, marred by opposition boycott, low turnout and large-scale violence, were held Jan 5.

A total of 21 parties, including Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), boycotted the elections as Hasina paid no heed to their demands for a non-party caretaker government for holding elections.

"We were never against the dialogue. Talks are the only way to consensus," Zia said.

She said her party was yet to get any proposal for holding dialogue with the ruling party after the general elections.

The former prime minister also urged the government to stop harassing opposition activists, withdraw false cases and remove restrictions on political programmes, rallies and media to pave the way for dialogue and consensus.

Replying to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's comment that the BNP had lost everything by boycotting the general elections, she said: "We have not lost. It is they who have lost."

Zia said her party would hold a rally in the capital Jan 20 to thank people for "boycotting the Jan 5 polls".

Apart from that, she also announced nationwide mass protests and black flag processions Jan 29.