Khaleda Zia has warned Hindus in Bangladesh to keep an watchful eye on the Awami League, the party that traditionally enjoys support of the religious minority.
At a programme on Monday, the BNP chief exchanged greetings with the community leaders on Monday on the occasion of Janmashtami.
There, she likened the ruling party to snake and offered the word of advice for the ‘malicious party’.
“Change your mindset in this 21st century. Just see how your property is getting plundered, how the safety of your mothers and sisters and others is being put at risk,” Khaleda told a section of Hindu leaders.
“Awami League is nothing less than a snake. Beware of its bite.”
The BNP was a non-communal party, she claimed and said they never used the religious minorities, in a pointed remark about the arch rival.
In her bid to address the perceived issue of mutual lack of faith between the BNP and the Hindus, the former prime minister referred to making Gayeshwar Chandra Roy one of the policymakers of her party.
“We would not have put him at the party’s highest forum if we did not have faith in him.
“So, the Hindu community must come to realise this. It cannot be one-way traffic. Things won’t get far if we do our bits but don’t get reciprocated by the other side. Both sides need to step forward,” she told the Hindus.
The programme was arranged by Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Kalyan (Welfare) Front and the invited guests included those from Ramkrishna Math, ISKCON Bangladesh, and Dhanmondi and Banani Puja Mandaps.
The BNP chief held the Awami League responsible for the repression on Hindus and forcible occupation of their property by Awami League men in several areas.
However, many incidents of brutal attacks on Hindus across Bangladesh happened immediately after her party came to power in 2001.
She on Monday also claimed, “Hindus get tortured whenever Awami League comes to power. Who have been grabbing the property of Hindus after independence? The relatives of (Prime Minister Sheikh) Hasina.”
She urged the people of all religions to unite and begin a movement to overcome the current critical situation Bangladesh is in.
Source: bdnews24