BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia on Wednesday strongly denounced government action in taking party senior leader MK Anwar into prison and arresting of her adviser Shawkat Mahmud.
Chief of the 20-party opposition alliance, begum Zia also urged the government to return to the path of democracy shunning its repressive acts and political vengeance.
In a statement, she also made a commitment that her party, if returns to power in the future, will never choose the path of political reprisal and attach priority in upholding the spirit of the national unity.
She alleged that the current regime after assuming power through the January-5 unilateral polls has shattered all the democratic institutions only to cling to power. “The entire nation is under grasp of its misrule.”
“We’ve got disheartened over the sending of 86-year-old veteran popular leader and BNP standing committee member MK Anwar to jail when he surrendered before a court, despite having the bail from the High Court, showing respect for law in a conspiratorial and false case filed in Comilla,” she said.
“Such attitude of the government towards a revered and elderly politician of the country has demonstrated its utter inhuman and intolerance to opposition. It’s nothing but abuse of power.”
On Tuesday, a Comilla court sent MK Anwar to jail rejecting his bail petition in a case filed in connection with a petrol bomb attack on a bus in Chouddogram upazila on February 3 last.
The BNP chief also strongly protested and condemned the arrest of her adviser and former Jatiya Press Club president Shawkat Mahmud by plainclothes police.
She alleged that the government arrested Shawkat Mahmud to stop his loud voice against its plot to politicise the National Press Club.
Plainclothes police on Tuesday arrested Shawkat Mahmud as he came to join a programme of pro-BNP professionals’ electoral platform Adarsha Dhaka Andolan at Samarai Convention Centre.
Khaleda also accused the government of torturing BNP leaders and activists across the country and implicating them in ‘false and fabricated cases’ as they are protesting the government’s undemocratic and fascist activities and pressing it for restoring people’s voting rights.
She said the rule of law is being put at stake by sending the BNP men to jails when they surrender before court in “false and fabricated” cases.
MK Anwar and Chandpur district BNP president Sheikh Fariduddin Manik were sent to jail when they surrender before the court hoping to get justice. “We strongly denounce the government’s intolerant attitude.”
Khaleda warned the government that it is gradually turning into hatred one for its efforts to perpetuate its power by snatching people’s voting rights and resorting to repressive cats.
Renewing her demand for a fresh election, she said there is no alternative to an inclusive election under a non-party administration to overcome the current political crisis. “People are aggrieved over the government for not paying heed to our repeated calls (for polls). The regime is being failed to realise people’s hopes and aspirations”
The BNP chief demanded the government release all her parry leaders, including MK Anwar, Shawkat Mahmud and Maink.
She also asked the government not to harass her party leaders in ‘false and fabricated’ cases.
Govt obstructing BNP
Meanwhile, BNP sanding committee member Nazrul Islam Khan on Wednesday accused the government of obstructing their party overhaul process by arresting their leaders.
“Our many leaders have been kept in jails implicating them in false cases. Our leaders are still being arrested. Party standing committee member MK Anwar and Chandpur district BNP president Sheikh Farid Ahmed Manik were sent to jail yesterday (Tuesday). Chairpersons’ adviser Shawkat Mahmud was also put behind bars,” he said.
The BNP leader further said, “The only motive behind the arrest of our leaders is to impede our party revamping process. The government is also obstructing our democratic activities in various ways.”
He came up with the allegation while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave at city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar along with the leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, marking its 35th founding anniversary.
On August 19, 1980, Ziaur Rahman established BNP’s voluntary wing Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal.
Nazrul urged the government not to create any obstacle to their party overhauling process.
He deplored that the top leaders of Swechchhasebak Dal, including its president Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel, general secretary Mir Sharfat Ali Safu and organising secretary Shafiul Bari Babu, could not go to Zia’s grave on the occasion as they are facing many ‘false, case.
The BNP leader demanded the government withdraw all the political cases filed against the leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies so that they can lead a normal life and move freely.
He alleged that democracy is besieged now in Bangladesh. “The current regime has seized power with tactics as it’s not elected with people’s vote.”
Mentioning that the country is now in a deep crisis, the BNP leader said only a free, fair and inclusive election under a non-party administration is the only option to get rid of it.
About the progress of their party overhauling, Nazrul said they hoped that their district units will be able to form the committees of wards, unions, thanas and municipalities under them within September 30 deadline set by the party high command.
Asked when their party will arrange its national council, he said they will think about it after formation of the committees of the district units.
Nazrul alleged that though they had all preparations they could not hold their national council earlier due to obstruction by the government and mass arrests of their leaders and activists.
BNP recalls Salam Talukder
BNP on Wednesday recalled its former secretary general Abdus Salam Talukder and chairperson’s adviser M Mosharraf Hossain through arranging a milad and doa mahfil on their death anniversaries.
The programme was held on the ground floor of the party’s central office at Nayapaltan after Asr prayers.
A munajat was offered after the milad seeking salvation of their departed souls. Party spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon, organising secretaries Fazlul Haq Milon, Golam Akbar Khandaker, central leader Habubur Rahman Habib and assistant office secretary Abdul Latif Jony were, among others, present.
Speaking on the occasion, the party leaders recalled the colourful political career of Salam Talukder and Mosharrf Hossain and their outstanding contributions to BNP for making it a stronger political organisation.
Salam Talukder’s 16th death anniversary will be observed on Thursday as he died on August 20, 1999.
Former MP and Feni district unit party president M Mosharraf Hossain died on August 18 last year.
His first death anniversary was observed on Tuesday amid various programmes taken by different socio-political and business organisations.
Source: Weekly Holiday
