Bus torching act of sabotage: BNP
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday alleged that the incidents of torching vehicles in the capital is an act of “sabotage by government agents”.
“Our experience says there’re some factors of this government which used to handle such acts and incidents to stage sabotage. We also saw it previously, they (govt agents) achieved it at differing times to malign and accuse BNP,” he said.
Speaking at a Meet-the-Reporters programme at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU), the BNP leader said, “I would like to obviously say BNP doesn’t do such politics. From our previous experiences, we can say some government agents perform such acts of sabotage to thwart a movement targeted at an improved cause.”
Mirza Fakhrul strongly condemned such incidents and demanded the federal government locate the offenders and hook them up to trial, no matter who they are.
Some vehicles were torched at various areas of the capital, including Nayapaltan, Jatiya Press Club, Gulistan, Shahbagh areas, on Thursday. Several cases were filed with different police stations, including that of Ramna, Shahbagh and Paltan Model Police, against BNP leaders and activists on Friday.
Fakhrul protested the implication of BNP with the cases filed regarding the the vehicle-torching incidents. "What happened yesterday (Thursday) was a very sad and nasty incident. Those folks who do politics always work in a relaxing democratic way and think of democratic way. Such incidents happen when there’s no democratic space in the country.”
He said though their party chief Khaleda Zia has been around jail for nearly 2 yrs, its unity remains intact. “In such a situation, some party leaders usually quit the party, but there’s still no division within the party. Our party is being run under collective leadership. Our standing committee meets every Saturday and takes the party’s decisions. We think the role BNP has been playing as of this critical time is the right one.”
The BNP leader said their party chief Khaleda is active in politics mentally but still she has a large influence in politics. “Begum Khaleda Zia never left politics, and can never leave it. "Her (Khaleda Zia's) existence is very deep amidst the persons of the united states. Many villagers still fast for her in order that she can recover and emerge from jail. “We think that she actually is in politics and she’ll surely be active...”
Slamming Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader for his comment that BNP is a barrier to democracy, Fakhrul said Awami League had obliterated democracy by introducing Baksal in 1975 and also did the same now and snatched people’s all of the basic rights.
He said Awami League also snatched people’s freedom of expression by formulating many harsher laws just like the Digital Security Act.
The BNP leader also criticised Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda for his comment that the united states can learn many things from Bangladesh Election Commission, especially about the vote counting, saying it is a ridiculous remark.
He said now BNP’s only agenda is to ensure holding a good and credible election by forming a neutral election commission under a neutral government to create a people's government and parliament.
