Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior leader Mirza Abbas on Monday questioned the sudden activities at Shahbagh.
He questioned why a sudden drama was unfolding at Shahbagh, as the area had previously been restricted for rallies and demonstrations.
He also alleged that despite the ban, members of the ‘ruling’ NCP held rallies and brought out processions there under government patronage.
‘Their demand was for the banning of the Awami League. Who was stopping them (govt) from doing that? Was the BNP stopping them?’ he told a discussion.
Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu Smriti Sangsad organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 10th death anniversary of former BNP organising secretary Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu.
Mirza Abbas alleged that a planned effort was underway to eliminate their party, saying, ‘pro-BNP officials are being replaced by those loyal to the Awami League or Jamaat-e-Islami in the administration and other key government offices.’
‘What is happening inside secretariat? The cohorts of fascists remain untouched and in place. Those who should be in jail are now serving as secretaries. Many of them were secretaries during the Awami League regime and continue to hold the same positions,’ he said.
He criticised the government for allowing former president Abdul Hamid to leave the country gracefully using the VIP gate.
‘I read in the newspapers that he wore a lungi, a T-shirt, and a mask while leaving... but how did he get access to the VIP area? Unless you’re a well-connected individual or a VIP, how is that possible?’ the BNP leader asked.
‘Some 622 Awami League members also left the country, but the government said it knew nothing about it. It is necessary to know what you [government] know.’
Abbas alleged that for the past few days, the nation had been witnessing what looked like a circus, a drama of sorts unfolding in Bangladesh.
‘That’s how it appears to me. In the past, we noticed that whenever Sheikh Hasina was about to take some action, she used to carry out something shady elsewhere to divert our attention. Seeing such acts, we could assume she was going to carry out her agenda,’ he said.
Abbas said that strong efforts were being made to accuse BNP of trying to rehabilitate the Awami League. ‘Why should we do it?’
He claimed that an unpopular party and certain quarters, envious of the BNP and unable to tolerate or accept the party, were deliberately attempting to malign the image of the party.
The BNP leader also claimed that their party leaders, including himself, had been unequivocally talking about the trial of the Awami League in their speeches made on various occasions.
‘Those who claim that BNP wants to rehabilitate the Awami League are enemies of the nation,’ he added.