‘Conspiracy’ has not ended, it has resumed with ‘greater intensity’, says Tarique Rahman

“Who controls the security forces? It’s not the BNP but the government,” he says

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has said political “conspiracies” in Bangladesh have not ended but have, in fact, resumed “with greater force”.

Urging everyone to stay alert while speaking virtually on Saturday afternoon at an event commemorating the July Uprising, he said: “We must remain aware of who and how they are conspiring, who is speaking in different tones at different times, and how they are frequently shifting their positions.”

Joining the event from London, Tarique addressed issues including current political developments, reform initiatives, the trial of killings during the uprising, and the recent Mitford murder incident.

“The conspiracy hasn’t ended. Echoing the words of today’s event chair (Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib), I want to say that the conspiracy is now intensifying. Conscientious people are saying a new phase of conspiracy has begun,” he added.

Referring to the 1971 Liberation War, the mass uprisings of 1990 and 2024, and other public movements for rights, Tarique said: “I urge all of you to be vocal and vigilant once again as the struggle for democratic and people’s rights is not over yet.”

The event, organised by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, was held at Hotel Lakeshore in Gulshan to mark the anniversary of the July-August mass uprising, in memory of the organisation's “martyrs”.

Family members of 142 “martyrs” attended the programme, holding up photos of their loved ones.

The event began with a rendition of the national anthem, followed by the families sharing their grief and the adversities they currently face.

The BNP has recently come under fire over the killing of scrap dealer Lal Chand, alias Md Sohag, who was bludgeoned to death outside Old Dhaka’s Mitford Hospital on Wednesday. Several members of BNP affiliates have been named as suspects in the case. The party has announced the expulsion of five individuals in connection with the incident.

Addressing the matter, Tarique said: “Why are some parties falsely presenting the incident in Old Dhaka? The young man who was killed may have had ties with Jubo Dal, but according to the information we have received the person who committed the murder was brought in from elsewhere.

“That person hasn’t been arrested or even named as an accused, at least not yet, alongside others detained or arrested. But why?”

He said, “We never said that any specific individual shouldn’t be arrested. We have always maintained that felons should face the law. It doesn’t matter what ties they have to the party. If someone commits a crime, the party will not shelter them in any way.”

“Why are the security forces sitting idle? Who controls the law-enforcing agencies? It’s not the BNP but the government. So why isn’t the government taking action against the killers, whether they belong to the party or elsewhere? Why is no action being taken?” he asked.