Criticising the ruling party for its ‘evil efforts’ to link BNP with al-Qaeda’s ‘so-called’ audiovisual message, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the government is trying to get close to the USA by speaking about al–Qaeda threat.
“The government has resorted to a strategy to get US favour and woo it by talking about al-Qaeda threat as the entire democratic world has rejected the January 5 election,” he said.
He also termed politically motivated the ruling party leaders’ remarks involving BNP.
Addressing a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, Fakhrul also termed politically motivated the ruling party leaders’ remarks involving BNP.
An audiovisual message, believed to be from al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, has urged the Muslims in Bangladesh to wage an intifada (popular uprising) to confront the “crusader onslaught against Islam”.
Following the al-Qaeda’s threat, the ruling party leaders alleged that BNP and Jamaat have connections with the message.
Refuting the allegation, the BNP spokesman alleged that the ruling party and its alliance partners are making ‘false, fabricated and politically-motivated’ statements involving BNP over the al-Qaeda issue. “Even, the Foreign Ministry is not yet sure about the authenticity of the message. The ruling party’s remarks centring BNP over the audiovisual message are not only false but also absurd.”
Fakhrul said BNP had never pampered terrorism and militancy and they will never do it in the future either.
“Terrorism and militancy had spread in the country during the Awami League’s previous regime and solidified it in the last five years,” he observed.
Referring to Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury’s remarks that Zawahiri had visited Bangladesh thrice under the supervision of BNP and Jamaat, the BNP leader lambasted the minister and said the ‘so-called visits of the al-Qaeda chief took place during the Awami League rule.
“Who will believe this that a militant group chief like Zawahiri visited Bangladesh thrice, but no country, intelligence group or media could know it,” he questioned.
He alleged that the government is forcing a section of media to run ‘false’ news. “The government may confuse the country’s people sometimes with false news but it won’t be able to mislead the world opinion.”
Mentioning that they like many countries, civil society members and human rights bodies have long been raising their voice against the forced disappearance and killing by the government and its repression and oppression on the opposition leaders and activists and Alem-Ulema, he said opposing the government’s repressive acts against Alem-Ulema does not demonstrate BNP’s connections with the al-Qaeda,’ he said.
Replying to a question, Fakhrul said the government should make the whole nation united to face such a threat. “The government is not doing this. Instead, they’re trying to blame the major political parties and divide the nation.”
“We urged the government to retreat from its suicidal plot to divide the country’s people only to make narrow political gains,” he said.
Source: UNBConnect