BNP urges India not to back illegal govt
The BNP yesterday urged India not to back or assist any illegal government or force that oppressed the people of Bangladesh. India isnt only a neighbour but a true friend, and our ties with them are very important. We hope that they will stay by the side of the people of Bangladesh and wont back or support any oppressing force in the country, said BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir while addressing a protest rally at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. He also hoped that being the largest democracy, India would support the restoration of democracy in Bangladesh. His comments came a day after Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj expressed satisfaction over the Bangladesh governments measures to curb militancy. She also said that the Indian government would provide full support to the Sheikh Hasina government in its drive against militants.
Opposing Swarajs comment, the BNP leader said the government had failed to curb militancy and extremism in the country.
The city unit of BNP organised the rally to register protest against the mass arrest of common people, including opposition leaders and activists, on the pretext of a police crackdown against militants and extremists.
Fakhrul reiterated that the recent large-scale arrests are nothing but a ploy to divert peoples attention from the governments failure to curb targeted killings. He pointed out that around 14,000 people were arrested during the crackdown, and of them, only 179 are suspected militants. So, its evident that the governments large-scale arrest drive is directed against opposition party men, he alleged.
The government has succeeded in repressing the opposition efficiently, he said.
The BNP leader said the government had gradually destroyed the election procedure with every election conducted after the January 5 one-sided polls.
He alleged that the Awami League has hung on to power for long by holding one-sided elections, which neither the countrys people nor the global community have accepted. People will naturally expect all democratic countries to take a position in favour of democracy and those who are on a movement for its restoration, he said.
He claimed that there is no congenial atmosphere for investment in the country and businessmen were investing abroad.
Fakhrul also emphasised the need for carrying out a movement against the present government, saying that there was no alternative.
BNP standing committee member Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, who presided over the rally, claimed that no democratic country, except India, had accepted the current government and the January 5 election. If India thinks it has good and friendly relations with Bangladesh by maintaining cordial relations with the Awami League or its president Sheikh Hasina, its perception is wrong. The friendship will have to be between India and Bangladesh, and also among the people of the two countries based on mutual respect, he said.
The rally was also addressed by, among others, Abdullah Al Noman, Ulema Dal president Hafez MA Malek and Khairul Kabir Khokan.
