Govt trying to hush up Savar tragedy to save party men: BNP

It also calls for MKA’s removal from cabinet

News - Govt trying to hush up Savar tragedy to save party men: BNP
 Terming the Savar tragedy a manmade disaster, the opposition BNP on Tuesday alleged that the government is trying to cover it up like its previous scandals as ruling party men are responsible for the catastrophe.

“Cases have been filed against building owner Sohel Rana and the garment owners keeping many loopholes. They were not charged with murder. And thus the government is trying to hush up the Savar tragedy,” said senior BNP leader Mosharraf Hossain.

He came up with the allegation while addressing a brief rally prior to bringing out a mourning procession in memory of those killed and injured in Savar tragedy by leaders and activists of the 18-party alliance in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

Issuing a note of warning, Mosharraf, also a BNP standing committee member, said, “We want to tell the government that it’ll have to face a dire consequence if it tries to cover up the Savar incident…the 18-party will put all throes responsible for it in the dock of people under the leadership of Khaleda Zia.”

Holding Jubo League leader Sohel Rana and local ruling party MP Murad Jong mainly responsible for the tragic incident, the BNP leader urged the government to file a murder cases against them and others involved in it.

Branding Murad Jong as the patron of Sohel Rana, he demanded the government arrest him immediately and ensure his proper punishment.

He alleged that the government has shown utter negligence and inaction to deal with the disaster that led to huge casualties. “The government was not active to rescue the people from the first day of the incident. Had the government remained sincere and active more workers could have been rescued alive from the rubble.”

He also demanded the government allocate Tk 20 lakh for each family member of the victims of the building collapse and proper treatment, rehabilitation and jobs for those got injured and crippled.

Mosharraf alleged that the government has invited a disaster like Savar one in the country’s politics by scrapping the caretaker government system. “We ask you (govt) to accept our demand for restoration of the caretaker government. Or else, we won’t have any alternative to ousting you through a mass upsurge.”

Addressing the rally, BNP Dhaka city unit convener Sadeque Hossain Khoka termed Home Minister an enemy of the mass people for his imprudent remarks.

Mentioning that many ruling party leaders are calling the Home Minister as an insane, the BNP leader urged the Prime Minister to remove him from the cabinet and send him to Pabna lunatic asylum for treatment.

Later, hundreds of leaders and activists of the 18-party brought out the rally from in front of the BNP office.

The processionists paraded the main thoroughfares from Nayapaltan area through Kakrail, Mouchak to Moghbazar intersection with black badges, flags and banners, festoons.

They chanted slogans demanding execution of Sohel Rana and local MP Murad Jong blaming them for the tragedy.

As the alliance observed the day as mourning day, black flags were hoisted at all offices of the opposition alliance and similar rallies were brought out in all cities, district and upazila towns across the country.

Source: UNB Connect