BNP senior leader ASM Hannan Shah on Monday said their party is going to hold an ‘all-party’ convention to work out effective ways to tackle militancy.
“I would like to say the country’s people will surely reach an understanding to face militancy. We’ll hold a convention or council in this regard. All parties, including Awami League, will be invited to join it,” he said.
Speaking at a protest meeting, the BNP leader further said, “We’ll discuss there the possible means to tackle terrorism and suppress militants together with people.”
Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, protesting the conviction of BNP senior vice chairman Tarique Rahman in a money-laundering case.
Hannan Shah said the government should have taken an initiative for forging a national unity to eliminate militancy following the terror attack on Gulshan Holey Artisan Bakery. “Though our leader Khaleda Zia came forward to that end, they (govt) ignored and degraded her move.”
He alleged that the government is not willing to take a united stance against extremism as it pampers terrorists and militants.
The BNP leader also alleged that the government is not taking any action against ruling party men though they are indulging in various crimes and violence at different parts of the country.
Referring to Tarique’s conviction by the High Court, he said their senior vice chairman was denied justice. “It was a flawed trial.”
Hannan Shah said Tarique will be acquitted from money-laundering charge through legal measure as he had been acquitted by the trial court earlier.
He claimed that huge money is being siphoned off to India from Bangladesh. “Indian Embassy provided 1.5 lakh people with visas in three days during Ramadan to visit the neighbouring country for shopping. An around Tk 4,500 crore was taken out from Bangladesh to India, if each of them have had taken Tk 30,000 on average during their visits.”
Mentioning that Bangladesh ranks third in the list of the countries from where India earns remittances, the BNP leader questioned whether Indians are sending the huge money to their countries from Bangladesh through banks or not.
He also alleged that the ruling party men are also laundering huge money to India and Malaysia by looting thousands crore of taka from financial sector, including bank.
Source: Prothom Alo
