BNP taunts government for 'delayed realisation of Genocide Day'

BNP has slammed the government for their “delayed realisation” on Mar 25, the day which has been officially observed as Genocide Day this year.

“The killings that were carried out on Mar 25 (1971), has been known as genocide throughout years. Why did Awami League take so much time to realise that?” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

His remarks to reporters came after paying tributes at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, marking the Independence Day on Sunday.

Pakistani army carried out "Operation Searchlight" on Bengalis on the "Black Night" of Mar 25, 1971, to stop their movement for freedom. Unarmed citizens were killed indiscriminately.

Cabinet approved the day as 'Genocide Day' this year.

On Saturday, during a discussion in Dhaka, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader criticised BNP for "not holding any programme to observe Genocide Day."

"Clarify your position. You (BNP) claim to be the convener of Liberation War. Then why are you silent on this day when the heinous killings were carried out?"

When asked on Quader's comments on Sunday, Fakhrul said: "We have always remembered and observed the day as Genocide Day. They (Awami League) are observing it for the first time."

He further said: "Awami League was in power from 1972-75. They did not observe the day as Genocide Day back then. Neither had they observed it during their 1996-2001 tenure. Now they are in power since 2008 and perhaps this is the first time they realised that the day is a day of genocide."

'Government fostering militancy'

The senior BNP leader claimed that the ruling Awami League was playing the militancy card for political gain.

He made the claim in response to Obaidul Quader's statement that "BNP were shielding militants."

"They are not trying to trace the roots of militants. No proper inquiry is on. Rather they are blaming pro-democracy parties."

After paying floral tributes at the National Mausoleum in Savar on Sunday, Obaidul Quader highlighted "BNP's involvement in militancy."

Fakhrul said: "We have suggested uniting political parties and civil society. That is the only way."

"The Sylhet incident is really alarming. So are the other recent incidents. They require proper investigation otherwise people will remain in doubt."

"We ask the government to unite with everyone in order to fight militancy."