BNP-led 20-party alliance forms human chain programme on Saturday. Photo: Focus Bangla
The BNP-led 20-party alliance on Tuesday urged the country’s people to be vocal and put up a united and strong resistance against enforced disappearances, abductions and repressive acts.
“It’s not the time to silently observe the killings and enforced disappearances. We all must be vocal against it. We have to put up a strong resistance against killings, abductions, enforced disappearances and repressive acts uniting the people of Bangladesh,” said BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He was addressing the alliance’s rescheduled chain programme in the city protesting the enforced disappearances of its leaders and activists.
Several thousands leaders and activists of the 20-party combine formed the human chain from Bijoynagar Nightingale crossing to Fakirerpool crossing around 11.00am, which concluded around 12.00 noon.
The programme was held in the city marking the ’International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance’ observed across the globe on Saturday.
Earlier on Saturday, the 20-party alliance rescheduled its human chain programme for Tuesday as the government denied it permission for holding it as it coincided with a ruling party rally.
The leaders and activists of the alliance gathered BNP’s Nayapaltan central office and its adjoining areas in small procession and holding different banners festoons and placards against the secret killings and forced disappearances.
Huge law enforcers were also deployed in the area to fend off any trouble.
Family members of some victims of forced disappearances and abductions also spoke at the programme.
The dejected victims’ relatives in tears urged the Prime Minister to take measures so that they safely get back their near and dear ones.
Addressing the programme, Fakhrul said the government has horrified the country’s people by establishing a reign of terror. “The current regime has annihilated democracy by resorting to killing, enforced disappearances and abductions. They’re carrying out repressive acts through the law enforcers to subdue the opposition.”
Claiming that huge people spontaneously joined their programme, the BNP leader said people through their voluntary participation in the human chain have sent out a message that they will not tolerate any more disappearance and abduction incidents.
Fakhrul said they will intensify their movement gradually to force this regime to hold a fresh inclusive election under a non-party administration.
BNP Dhaka city unit convener Mirza Abbas said they have come to know that the government is making a fresh list to kill and make more people disappeared.
“More people will be made disappeared and more people will get killed. So, we have to be aware of it alongside creating a resistance against it,” he said.
Missing BNP leader Ilias Ali’s son Arnab, enforced disappearance victims Khaleda Hasan Sohel’s wife Sharmin Sultana, Samrat’s sister Kaniz Fatema Rita, Sohel Sarker’s father Shamsur Rahman, Tariqul Islam Tara’s father Nurul Islam, Mainul Hasan’s father Safaruddin, Nizamuddin Munna’s father Shamsuddin Ahmed, Johirul Islam’s mother Hosne Ara Begum, Sajedul Islam Sumon’s sister Marufa Islam and Adnan’s sister Farhana Sultana addressed the programme.
BNP standing committee members Lt Gen Mahbubur Rahman, MK Anwar, Abdul Moyeen Khan, vice chairmen Abdullah Al Noman, Selima Rahman, chairperson’s adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo, joint secretaries general Barkatullah Bulu, Salahuddin Ahmed and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and senior 20-party leaders, among others, participated in the programme.
Source: Prothom Alo
