BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that whenever Awami League came to power it destroyed the spirit of the Liberation War.
"We waged the Liberation War in 1971 with a dream to build a democratic and modern state ensuring the freedom of expression. But the dream still remains unimplemented. Whenever Awami League got the chance to come power it destroyed the Liberation War spirit," he said.
The BNP leader came up with the comments while speaking at a discussion at Mohanagar Natya Mancha in the city, arranged by the party marking the Martyred Intellectual Day.
He alleged that the government is taking all-out steps to eliminate its opponents and those who hold alternative opinions.
Fakhrul called upon people from all walks of to get united to restore democracy and freedom of expression in the country.
He said the government has completely politicised the administration and brought the judiciary under the control of the ruling party.
The BNP leader alleged that those who are raising their voice against the current regime are being made disappeared, killed, harassed and implicated in ‘false’ cases.
Turning to the next election issue, he urged the government to engage in talks with political parties for finding out an acceptable way for holding the polls in a credible manner as per the hopes and aspirations of people. Otherwise, Fakhrul warned, the government will have to face serious public wraths.
BNP standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said they heard that a conspiracy is on to keep them out of the election race by implicating the BNP chairperson and all other leaders in cases and ensuring their conviction.
“But we want to say unequivocally that the 11th national election will not be similar to the 2014 polls as it will not be allowed to hold such an election,” he said.Reported:UNB.
If the 11th general election is held like the one held in 2014, it will only kill democracy, the spirit of the Liberation War and that of the martyred intellectuals. “So, the BNP which was founded by freedom fighter late President Ziaur Rahman will never let it do so,” Mosharraf added.
Another BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed said the independence of the country’s judiciary and the Supreme Court was hampered by the government. “Now the government forces judges to resign as it made former chief justice SK Sinha to do so by humiliating and insulting them on any silly ground.”
Presided over by Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the discussion was also addressed by BNP standing committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan, BNP vice chairperson Selima Rahman, Dhaka University professors Mahbubullah and Sukomal Barua.
BNP publicity secretary Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie and its assistant publicity secretary Amirul Islam Khan Alim moderated the discussion.