BNP top brass slam Dhaka city unit leadership
A number of top BNP and 19-party alliance leaders yesterday sharply criticised activists and leadership of the Dhaka city unit BNP for not taking to streets during the recent anti-government movement.
Even a BNP vice chairman lambasted the activists who, at a discussion at the capital's Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh yesterday, chanted slogans demanding release of BNP leaders including Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu.
“Why are you chanting slogans here inside the room against the arrest of BNP leaders? Have we arrested them? Why aren't you going to the front of Gono Bhaban, residence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina?” said BNP Vice Chairman Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed.
Hafizuddin, who presided over the meeting organised by BNP to mark Independence Day, said, "Don't shout slogans like 'direct action' inside the room. You should chant such slogans on streets."
“I fervently request you, the young leaders and activists of BNP, to take to streets; show all your strength, enthusiasm there. At the age of 70, we will remain behind you. But slogans, speeches will not work to meet our demand to topple the present government,” he said.
“BNP should not wait for Almighty Allah's wrath to be descended upon the oppressive Sheikh Hasina government.
Rather, the party should wage movement to get rid of the oppression.”
Earlier, BNP standing committee member Rafiqul Islam Mia said staying in air-conditioned room and making wealth did not mean politics. “Vandalising one or two vehicles won't work. We must take to streets; we must wage movement and ensure the fall of Hasina's illegal government.”
Liberal Democratic Party Chairman Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, a major ally in the 19-party combine, also lambasted BNP and its front organisation's young activists and leaders for not taking to streets during opposition's anti-government movement from October to December last year.
He alleged that during the movement, BNP leaders phoned their party chief Khaleda Zia that they were available on streets but actually they were staying in their houses at that time.
Bangladesh Kalyan Party Chairman Syed Muhammad Ibrahim also criticised BNP's young leadership for their lack of interest in learning the biography of Ziaur Rahman, the BNP founder.
The BNP and alliance leaders termed Zia the real proclaimer of the country's independence.
KHALEDA ABSENT
Although it was announced from the stage that Khaleda Zia would join the meeting, the BNP chief did not show up at the end. Party sources said she was pre-occupied in another meeting.
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