Govt plotting to bring another 1/11: 18-party

The alliance brings out rally in city marking 1/11 as a black day

BNP leader Tariqul Islam addresses a procession in front of party Nayapaltan central office on Friday.

Bashing the prime minister for her remarks that the opposition is inviting a 1/11-like situation, the BNP-led 18-party alliance on Friday alleged that it is the government that is conspiring to bring another 1/11 in the country.

‘We want to categorically say that it’s the government not the opposition that is plotting to bring another 1/11 in the country by snatching people’s voting rights. We urge people to remain alert to thwart the government’s plan,” BNP spokesman Tariqul Islam said while inaugurating a black-flag procession in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

The procession was brought out by the 18-parrty alliance to observe ‘Black Day on Friday to register its protest against the 2007 political changeover and formation of a military-backed interim government on the day.

Several thousand leaders and activists, led by top alliance leaders, brought out the procession carrying black flags and black banners in the capital from in front of BNP’s central office around 4:00pm and it terminated at Moghbazar after parading different city streets through Kakrail, Malibagh and Mouchak intersections.

A large number of law enforces were deployed in the areas to fend off any untoward incident.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said the opposition is trying to invite a 1/11-like situation in the name of movement demanding the restoration of caretaker government system and thus disrupt the country’s democratic process and save the war criminals.

She made the remarks while addressing a discussion meeting arranged marking the Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Reacting to the PM’s remarks, Tariqul said, “BNP doesn’t want to see the recurrence of 1/11. We’re venting our hatred today by bringing out the procession with black flags as we don’t want its repeat. But Awami League is not doing this as they came to power through an entente with the masterminds of the 1/11.”

Accusing the ruling party of creating the 1/11 in 2007, the BNP coordinator said Sheikh Hasina had welcomed the Fakhruddin-Moyeenuddin government and claimed it the outcome of their movement.

Referring to a remark of former AL general secretary in London after the 2008 election that the grand alliance government is a regime of understanding and entente, he said now it is the question of people whether AL came to power through fair polls?

Tariqul hoped that the Prime Minster in her address to the nation today would inform people about her government’s steps against the plunderers of the share market, Hall-Mark, Destiny and Padma Bridge and mention the names of those involved in the graft.

She will also inform people about the actions of her government against the killers of Bishwajit Das and journalist couple Sagar-Runi and its measures to trace out 157 people, including Ilias Ali and Chowdhury Alam, who were made disappeared over the last four years, Tariqul said.

Reiterating his party’s demand for restoration of the caretaker government, Tariqul, also a standing committee member of BNP, called upon the government to save the country and its people from anarchy by holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.

Meanwhile, the alliance also brought out similar processions in all the cities and towns of the country to mark the day.

On December 30, the alliance leaders at a meeting with BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia in the chair decided to observe the day as Black Day.

Source: Bdnews24