Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday questioned whether the interim government was using reforms as an excuse for wasting time while helping fugitive autocrats escape and creating issues to divide the political forces standing against dictatorship and fascism.
He also voiced concerns about the interim government鈥檚 effectiveness and motives, warning that public doubts were rising over whether the government was fulfilling its duties with integrity.
鈥楶erhaps, the government is preparing the ground for rehabilitating the fugitive autocrat,鈥� he said while virtually addressing the Star reunion of Christmas communities held at the BARC auditorium in the capital Dhaka.
Citing the departure of former president Abdul Hamid through the airport, Tarique said that now it was being said that the interim government knew nothing about his departure.
鈥楢fter this incident, many are asking: is the interim government merely buying time in the name of reform, while on one hand facilitating the safe escape of fugitive autocrats and their accomplices, and on the other hand, cleverly creating issues and divisions among the political parties that were on the ground against fascism?鈥� he questioned.
Tarique also expressed his shock that police on Thursday raided the home of Sajidul Islam Sumon, a Dhaka Metropolitan BNP leader who was abducted by members of the Rapid Action Battalion in December 2013 and has remained missing since.
He said that without democracy and the rule of law, no one 鈥� majority or minority 鈥� would be safe, and even the country鈥檚 independence and sovereignty could be at risk.
One of the essential preconditions for ensuring democracy and the rule of law is the establishment of a parliament and the government that are directly elected by the people, Tarique said.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called on all citizens to unite in the struggle for democracy, justice and equal rights.
鈥楾oday, opportunity has come. We hope we can make good use of this chance, working together to build a truly united Bangladesh 鈥� not divided by revenge, but built with love,鈥� Fakhrul said.
