The BNP must not be wiped off the political canvas for the sake of democracy in Bangladesh, a former Awami League minister has said in a subtle dig at the party.
Two leaders – one of the ruling party and another of the Opposition – had never sat back at a function at the National Press Club without trading barbs, Hasan Mahmud said.
“But we have made it possible,” he went on speaking as the chief guest at the function, at a reception given by Thikana Bangladesh to Jatiya Party leader Kazi Firoz Rashid.
“This should happen in a civilised country. The Opposition party never takes people hostage to further its interest nor kill people by burning them with petrol in such a country.”
Khaleda Zia, who leads the BNP, had presented a list at a recent press conference of those, she claimed, had been killed, but newspaper reports later debunked her allegation as a sheer lie, he said.
“She had even claimed that 15 persons were killed in Chittagong. I have come back from Chittagong. I talked to the BNP leaders there, but they, too, could not name more than a few people,” he said.
Hasan Mahmud, who oversaw environment and forest in Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s last cabinet, said Hasina was simply making up the numbers.
BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi had recently threatened to carry on their street agitations until the government was ousted.
But Mahmud quipped: “(Failing to do so) They have now been got off the Parliament and the streets.”
“Now they are again vowing to oust the government. We want to give democracy a firm footing. So, we do not want them to be wiped off politics by trying to oust the government,” he said.
He claimed that having lost her place in Parliament, Khaleda Zia was now trying to dump those who had so far propped up her party.
Khaleda, he pointed out, had recently said she needed time to organise her party before she hit the streets again in full force.
He stressed that the government would run its full five-year term unless the Leader of Parliament decided otherwise. “The election will not be held under Khaleda’s threat.”
Mahmud said, “The BNP is neither in Parliament nor on the streets. Out of desperation, they are hatching multiple plots.”
He said may at home and abroad were involved in these conspiracies and urged his own party men to remain alert.
Independent MP Haji Mohammad Salim was also present at the programme. Haji Salim had contested as an independent candidate after failing to secure a ticket from the Awami League for the polls.
Source: Bd news24
