“The opposition leader praised the army for their role they played at Shahjahanpur in Bogra on March 3 in saving public life and property. She said nothing to incite any military intervention. The remarks of Syed Ashraf and the Home Minister in this regard are not true,“ he said.
Fakhrul was talking to reporters after placing wreaths at the grave of party founder late president Ziaur Rahman marking the 43rd Independence and National Day.
Addressing a wayside rally at Matidali intersection of Bogra Sadar upazila on Sunday, Khaleda said, “I thank the army for not firing shots on the common people…They’ve the duty for the country. They can’t play the role of silent spectators… they can’t sit idle while people are getting killed. They’ll play their due role in time.”
Awami League general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam on Tuesday termed Khaleda’s remarks on army unprecedented. “I doubt whether any democratic country in the world had seen such an incident in the past.” He said Khaleda would have faced a sedition case if such an incident had taken place elsewhere in the world.
The AL general secretary, while talking to reporters after paying tributes to the martyrs of the Liberation War by placing wreaths at the National Mausoleum, also said BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has taken up the ‘most ferocious role’ in saving the war criminals.
Earlier on Monday, Home Minister Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir termed seditious the remarks of Khaleda on Army.
Disapproving Ashraf’s comment, Fakhrul said the Awami League general secretary is unfortunately spreading lies about the BNP’s stand on the war crimes trial.
“We’re repeatedly saying we want the trial of all those involved in crimes against humanity. But the trial must be fair, impartial, transparent and of international standards, not politically motivated.”
Fakhrul said his party thinks ensuring people’s voting rights and human rights is the main challenge for the nation right at the moment.
“The government by its subservient police has killed 170 people recently… the country’s democracy is now at stake. We must vow to reestablish democracy through holding an election under a non-party caretaker government,” he said.
Mentioning that there is no alternative to intensifying the ongoing movement, the BNP leader said, “The movement can’t be resisted by filing false cases and resorting to repressive acts. No election will be allowed without restoration of the non-party caretaker government.”
Replying to a question, he said the people of the country will peacefully observe the 36-hour hartal beginning on Wednesday morning with their spontaneous participation.
