Government only wants to use militancy to crush opponents, not wipe it out: BNP

The government is interested only to use militancy to crush its political opponents rather than wiping it out, the BNP has alleged.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 19 August 2016, 08:15 AM
Updated : 19 August 2016, 01:52 PM

Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Friday that the real perpetrators are not being identified as the Awami League government is not confronting the issue ‘properly’.

“It’s now clear that they do not want to eliminate it, rather want to use it for political gains. That’s why militancy is rising after they (the Awami League) assumed power,” he told reporters on Friday after visiting the grave of party founder Ziaur Rahman in Dhaka.

He accused the government of playing the militancy card to repress the opposition.

‘AL involved in Bangabandhu killing’

Mirza Fakhrul claimed it was the leaders of the Awami League who had masterminded the assassination of the nation’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and later fabricated stories to dust off the guilt.

His remarks came after a Cabinet member claimed on Thursday that Ziaur Rahman colluded with Pakistan for the 1975 killings.

“Who assumed power after Sheikh Mujib’s murder? It was the Awami League,” Fakhrul said on Friday.

“A proper investigation will reveal that Awami League leaders had set the plan to carry out the murder. Ziaur Rahman was never into such political practices,” said the senior BNP leader.

The new BNP committees

He was asked whether the party is considering any changes to its newly formed key committees in the wake of growing discontent among party leaders.

But Mirza Fakhrul said it was not possible to appoint all qualified leaders to the 502-string central committee.

“It’s natural that there will be some discontent. But it was formed through a process and we found out that it was generally accepted.  

“So there’s no chance of changes. Any individual will not be able to hold two designations; in that case those who are eligible will be appointed,” he added.

On BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s call for a national unity to combat terrorism, Fakhrul said, “We want to say it clearly that the call was made to the whole nation. It is a continuous process and not related to any particular political party.”

He alleged that the government was making up false cases and arrests in a process to crush the BNP.

“A minister has even said that they want to wipe out the BNP.

“When a minister, a responsible leader makes such a statement, it’s clear where the country stands democratically,” said the BNP secretary general.