BNP sees ‘conspiracy’ unfolding to derail Feb 12 general election

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has described a series of attacks following the death of Inqilab Moncho Convenor Sharif Osman bin Hadi as part of a conspiracy to make the parliamentary elections “uncertain”.

The party’s assessment came after incidents of vandalism and arson targeting Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, Chhayanaut, Udichi and other institutions, as well as an attack on the Indian mission in Khulna over the past two days, amid anger and protests triggered by news of Hadi’s death.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir outlined the party’s position at a press conference late Friday night, following a meeting of the party’s National Standing Committee.

“We condemn and express our disgust at these heinous incidents,” Fakhrul said. “They demonstrate that a long-identified group is deliberately pushing the country towards chaos.”

He alleged that the group was attempting to nullify democratic and voting rights, “won through immense bloodshed”, to establish a new version of fascism in the country.

Fakhrul said that while political parties across the country were protesting Hadi’s killing, demanding justice and pressing the government to arrest and prosecute those responsible, the occurrence of such attacks at this moment pointed to a “deliberate plot”. 

“In this situation, we believe these disgraceful incidents are a conspiracy to cast uncertainty over the elections and the process of democratic transition,” he said.

CALL FOR UNITY

Issuing what he described as a warning on behalf of “peace-loving citizens”, Fakhrul said the country could not be allowed to be destroyed after the sacrifices made to achieve independence. 

“This destructive force must be resisted in unity,” he said.

“There is no alternative to unity among all anti-chaos political and social forces to thwart this conspiracy,” he added, calling on patriotic groups to come together once again.

He said it was through unity that fascism had been defeated, an interim government installed, and a national election secured, urging the continuation of that collective effort.

‘GOVERNMENT ROLE NOT SATISFACTORY’

Fakhrul also voiced dissatisfaction with the government’s role in the wake of Hadi’s fatal shooting and the subsequent deterioration in law and order.

“They are carrying out these activities right under the government’s nose. The public also believes the government’s role is not satisfactory,” he said, warning that the country’s image at home and abroad was being damaged.

The Standing Committee meeting was held at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office and was chaired virtually from London by acting chief Tarique Rahman.