BNP questions Hasina’s claim that national unity against terrorism is already built

The BNP, which leads the 20-Party Alliance, has questioned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s claim that a national unity against militancy has already been built.

It termed the unity Hasina spoke about a ‘unity of the 14 parties in the ruling coalition’.

“How does the prime minister call the process of unity between the 14 ruling parties ‘national unity’ by leaving BNP and other political parties out?” BNP leader Nazrul Islam Khan asked at a news conference on Monday.

Hasina on Sunday rejected BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s call for forging a national unity against militancy, saying there cannot be any accord with ‘terrorists’.

Khan on Monday reiterated Khaleda’s appeal.

“Even so, we urge the government to shun ‘blame-game’ and vengeance. Please create a national unity beyond political and ideological differences for the sake of public security and the country’s image to safeguard the nation against an uncertain future,” he said.

“We think only the unity of opposition parties or the unity of those in the government is not enough to overcome the crisis. Only an unity of all can address the situation.”

The BNP leader also said his party is not going to withdraw the call.

“Maybe, they (government) will agree tomorrow, if not today,” he said.

Khan said the BNP has started forming grassroots committees as part of the process to forge the national unity after the recent terror attacks in Gulshan and Sholakia.