The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Sunday issued a show-cause notice to the party chairperson’s advisory council member Fazlur Rahman over his ‘objectionable and misleading statements’ over the July–August mass uprising.
The student-led mass uprising ousted the authoritarian Awami League regime on August 5, 2024.
The notice, signed by BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, asked Fazlur to submit a written explanation within 24 hours why organisational action should not be taken against him for his ‘bizarre and undisciplined statements’.
‘You have been continuously making objectionable and misleading statements about the historic July–August mass uprising, and the remarks you have made regarding the self-sacrificing martyrs are completely contrary to the party’s ideals and the spirit of the uprising,’ said the show-cause notice.
It said that Fazlur’s statements against the glorious mass uprising and the movement to restore democracy had provoked strong reactions among the public, and that many believed his remarks were a deliberate attempt to tarnish the party’s reputation.
The notice mentioned that Fazlur had even spoken in a manner that hurt ‘the religious sentiments of people’.
‘During the July–August uprising, more than 450 BNP leaders and activists, along with about 1,500 students and public, were martyred, and more than 30,000 people were seriously injured. You are continuously insulting and disrespecting the heroic role of students and the public in the movement to restore democracy,’ the show-cause notice said.
‘Therefore, you are instructed to submit a written explanation to the party’s central office at Naya Paltan within the next 24 hours, providing valid reasons why organisational action should not be taken against you for such bizarre and undisciplined statements,’ it said.
Fazlur could not be reached for comments despite repeated attempts over phone.
