Describing the attack on the Holey Artisan bakery in Dhaka’s Gulshan as a reflection of the government’s prevailing misrule, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has condemned the incident.
A chaotic political situation was created due to the undemocratic ruling system and its ugly consequences have begun surfacing across the country, she said in a press release issued on Saturday.
“The dreadful activities of the attackers manifest the misrule that exists in the country,” Khaleda said.
The BNP chief said she repeatedly urged the government to take measures for countering evil plans of extremists irrespective of their political identities. “But the government paid no heed to my call. Instead, it chose to blame the BNP for the incidents.”
The former premier said some 16,000 people had been arrested in the recent crackdown on militants in different parts of the country and over 4,000 of them are BNP members. “The rest are commoners.”
Khaleda called on the government to make concerted efforts to combat militancy irrespective of political views.
“It might be tough to maintain peace, stability and security in the country if we fail to make concerted efforts in order to curb the extremist force right now,” she added.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
BNP has been crying out loud and clear for national unity and consensus on important national issues. However, Awami League has been repeatedly ridiculing this important demand of the people of Bangladesh. In these circumstances, BNP may consider the following for the support of people:
1. At the moment BNP has the majority people’s support. Therefore, BNP can call the national convention based on the true spirit of the liberation war inviting all the political parties (including Awami League), civil society, professional and religious groups.
2. BNP’s internal and external relations wings should immediately reach out to the families of the victim of the Gulshan massacre in Bangladesh, Italy, India, and other countries. High level delegation should visit the families at home and abroad.
3. The elements of a national consensus are already there in the declarations of the latest Annual Council of BNP. Establishing the true spirit and writing the true history of liberation war through a commission of historians must be highlighted in the election manifesto of BNP.
4. BNP can assure the people that if they are voted into power, the constitution will be amended after national debates on major issues in order to reflect our War of Liberation”, strengthening the democratic institutions and bringing back the referendum to change any major character of the constitution. This raises the question if all the recent amendments made by AL to the constitution without undergoing a referendum are valid.