The Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairperson, Khaleda Zia, on Sunday called for unity against extremism to establish a peaceful, safe and democratic Bangladesh.
She made the urge at a briefing a day after the Gulshan hostage crisis ended Saturday morning leaving 28 people, including 17 foreigners, 3 Bangladeshis, two police officials and 6 suspects, killed.
It is the time of a great crisis for the country, she said at the briefing at her Gulshan office.
‘Whatever we say, nothing will exist, no achievement will sustain, if we fail to eliminate terrorism and ensure people’s security. So let us establish a safe Bangladesh forging anti-terrorism unity forgetting all political divisions,’ Khaleda said.
Thanking foreign friends who stand beside Bangladesh with sympathy and offer of cooperation in this hour of crisis, she expressed hope the foreign countries would keep up all possible cooperation in facing extremism maintaining respect to the sovereignty of Bangladesh.
She, however, said that the responsibility for facing extremism lied firstly on the government and people of the respective country.
The BNP chief said the present scenario of extremism was not a mere law and order problem and it could not be checked only through operation of the law enforcement agencies.
She said that the current crisis was a deep-rooted one and it would take more acute shape if the activities to combat extremism were used as a weapon to repress political opponents.
‘Our national security, peace, stability and our belief have been affected and its farsighted negative impact may fall on our economy, trade and commerce, lifestyle and international relations. So, we have to face this crisis through united efforts of all,’ she added.
Dwelling on the hostage crisis, the BNP chairperson said a dangerous extremist attack happened when extremists could enter tight security enclosure of diplomatic area with firearms, ammunition, grenade and bomb and killed two police officers and 20 hostages including 17 foreigners.
There is no language to condemn this heinous attack and killing of innocent local and foreign nationals including women, she said.
She expressed deep shock saying that killing peaceful and innocent people on any excuse was not a sign of sound health. She expressed deep hate to this insane.
Khaleda said BNP also in fear like peace loving people of Bangladesh and the world, as the incident exposed the weakness and fault of the country’s security system and ability of extremists.
She said monster of serious extremism grew up secretly in the country of peaceful people and now they were committing heinous killings.
The former prime minister said no healthy and conscience person could accept such coward attack and killing of innocent people.
She said it was not possible to earn anything through such senseless and cruel adventurous and wrong path and no ideology or religion approved such senseless activities.
Khaleda said Islam strongly opposed killing of innocent people and extremism and this bloodshed during this month of holy Ramadan stunned every Muslim.
She conveyed sympathy to the families of foreign nationals killed in the hostage crisis and the governments and people of Italy, Japan and India.
She said everybody should keep it in mind that extremism rose in a country where there was autocratic rule, intolerance-politics, oppressing system, society without rights, absence of rule of law and democracy, economic discrimination and deprivation and lack of proper education.
The BNP chief said without people’s participation such a national crisis cannot be faced and only democratic environment can ensure people’s participation.
Referring to recent targeted killings of people of various professions and religions including imams, priests, religious leaders, writers, publishers, and bloggers of different opinion, she said the country’s tradition of communal harmony was being hampered.
She said these killings and bloodshed must be stopped and ‘we must have to get united and unite people.’
She thanked army for once again proving their capability and inevitable necessity during such crisis of national life.
Khaleda thanked all involved in the rescue operation including army, navy, police, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh, and fire service.
She expressed condolence for the loss of lives of two police officials in the rescue operation and conveyed sympathy to the bereaved families.
She did not take any question.
BNP leaders including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, ASM Hannan Shah, Mirza Abbas, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and Rafiqul Islam Mia were present.
source: new age
