Pakistan, its agents want to destroy democracy: Ashraf

Awami League (AL) general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday alleged that Pakistan and its Bangladeshi agents are still hatching a conspiracy to make the country a “failed state”. “Collaborators of Pakistani occupation forces are still occupying good positions in the country though we fought against them during the Liberation War in 1971,” he said. He added that they have been conspiring to destroy the country’s democratic system.
Syed Ashraf, also the public administration minister, was talking to reporters after placing a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi-32 in the city on the occasion of Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day.
On this day in 1972, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned to independent Bangladesh after nine-and-a-half months of captivity in a Pakistan jail. Since then, the Bangladesh Awami League has been observing the day as Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day.
Marking the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party leaders paid tributes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing floral wreaths on his portrait.
The AL general secretary said though the war criminals were trying to destroy the country’s democratic system, they would not succeed, as the people of the country had defeated them in the 1971 Liberation War.
Talking to reporters, industries minister Amir Hossain Amu said BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia launched a violent movement when the trial of war criminals started, in order to save them.
The AL advisory council member also alleged that Khaleda is still working as an agent of Pakistan and conspiring against the country to make it a new Pakistan. Those who worked as the collaborators of Pakistani occupation forces in 1971 are yet to accept the Liberation War of the country, he added.
Later, the leaders of the AL’s associate bodies, including Jubo League, Chhatra League, Sramik League, Mohila Awami League, Sechchhasebak League, Jubo Mohila League, Krishak League, Dhaka City unit of the AL and other socio-cultural organisations, laid wreaths on the portrait of Bangabandhu.
In a separate programme, AL joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said it is not the AL, but the BNP, that has become a bankrupt political party by boycotting the January 5 general elections.
He was talking to reporters after visiting Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day rally ground at the city’s historical Suhrawardi Uddyan yesterday evening.
On Saturday, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the AL has become a bankrupt political party and that is why it was trying to split other political alliances.
“The AL is now on a strong footing by assuming office for the second consecutive time. The BNP has become isolated from the people by boycotting the January 5 polls. It was their wrong decision and now the BNP leaders are making such statements,” Hanif said.
Hanif even dubbed Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s statement in this context as a “ridiculous” one.

Pakistan, its agents want to destroy democracy: Ashraf

Awami League (AL) general secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday alleged that Pakistan and its Bangladeshi agents are still hatching a conspiracy to make the country a failed state. Collaborators of Pakistani occupation forces are still occupying good positions in the country though we fought against them during the Liberation War in 1971, he said. He added that they have been conspiring to destroy the countrys democratic system. Syed Ashraf, also the public administration minister, was talking to reporters after placing a wreath at the portrait of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman at Dhanmondi-32 in the city on the occasion of Bangabandhus Homecoming Day. On this day in 1972, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returned to independent Bangladesh after nine-and-a-half months of captivity in a Pakistan jail. Since then, the Bangladesh Awami League has been observing the day as Bangabandhus Homecoming Day. Marking the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her party leaders paid tributes to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing floral wreaths on his portrait. The AL general secretary said though the war criminals were trying to destroy the countrys democratic system, they would not succeed, as the people of the country had defeated them in the 1971 Liberation War. Talking to reporters, industries minister Amir Hossain Amu said BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia launched a violent movement when the trial of war criminals started, in order to save them. The AL advisory council member also alleged that Khaleda is still working as an agent of Pakistan and conspiring against the country to make it a new Pakistan. Those who worked as the collaborators of Pakistani occupation forces in 1971 are yet to accept the Liberation War of the country, he added. Later, the leaders of the ALs associate bodies, including Jubo League, Chhatra League, Sramik League, Mohila Awami League, Sechchhasebak League, Jubo Mohila League, Krishak League, Dhaka City unit of the AL and other socio-cultural organisations, laid wreaths on the portrait of Bangabandhu. In a separate programme, AL joint general secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said it is not the AL, but the BNP, that has become a bankrupt political party by boycotting the January 5 general elections. He was talking to reporters after visiting Bangabandhus Homecoming Day rally ground at the citys historical Suhrawardi Uddyan yesterday evening. On Saturday, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the AL has become a bankrupt political party and that is why it was trying to split other political alliances. The AL is now on a strong footing by assuming office for the second consecutive time. The BNP has become isolated from the people by boycotting the January 5 polls. It was their wrong decision and now the BNP leaders are making such statements, Hanif said. Hanif even dubbed Fakhrul Islam Alamgirs statement in this context as a ridiculous one.