Mixed reaction among parties

Different political parties yesterday came up with their reaction to the army announcement made at a press conference that it had foiled a plan to topple the government.
BNP
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of BNP, yesterday said his party believes in power transfer only through a democratic process, not in any other way.
He also rejected the allegation made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that late president Ziaur Rahman, founder of BNP, killed 17 air force officers when a coup took place in 1977.
Hasina was addressing a view exchange with Khagrachhari Awami League leaders on Thursday, hours before the army's press briefing.
On Thursday, BNP made no comment on the army statement or the prime ministerial remark.
Mirza Alamgir yesterday claimed that it was Ziaur Rahman who had established discipline in the armed forces.
“BNP believes in democratic power handover, not in any other way,” he said while talking to reporters after placing a wreath at a monument built for those who were killed in the 2001 bomb attack on a Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) rally.
"Such remarks by the head of the government will harm the country's democracy. We condemn it,” he said, adding that BNP always wants to see the army, which is the symbol of sovereignty, disciplined.
Asked about the army briefing, the BNP leader said his party believes in democracy and that is why it always stands against autocracy and one-party rule.
Meanwhile, the party's standing committee member, Nazrul Islam Khan, claimed that BNP did not introduce military rule in the country. Rather, it was Awami League leaders who are responsible for the imposition of first martial law in Bangladesh.
“BNP always believes in democracy,” he said while addressing a discussion organised by Swadhinata Forum at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday to mark the 76th birth anniversary of Ziaur Rahman.
He said Awami League leaders came to power by declaring martial law after the assassination of Shiekh Mujibur Rahman in 1975.
JSD
The party yesterday condemned the coup attempt by some derailed army officials.
In a joint statement, JSD President Hasanul Haque Inu and General Secretary Sharif Nurul Ambia congratulated the army on its timely action and also for making the matter public.
The statement said people were filled with apprehension about a possible conspiracy while the war crimes trial got momentum. “The people's apprehension has now become a reality.”
“Religious fanatic groups active in the country should not be undermined,” it read.
The two leaders urged all secular and democratic people to be united against any conspiracy against the ongoing war crimes trial.
They also recommended looking into whether the recent comments of opposition BNP leaders have any link with the failed coup.
BANGLADESH WORKERS PARTY
Bangladesh Workers Party demanded those involved with the anti-state scheme be unmasked and brought to trial.
In a written statement, the politburo, the highest policymaking body of the left leaning party, congratulated the army for frustrating the putsch.
The statement said the plot involving some derailed army officials aimed to impede the democratic process and serve political interest of a vested quarter.
Conspiracy by communal forces at a time when the government is holding the war crimes trial means nothing but efforts to implement their militant agenda, said the statement.
It is clear that the recent provocative speech of top political leaders, atrocities of Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP's unscheduled programme on December 18 paved the way for execution of such design, said the statement.
It also urged all secular, leftist and democratic forces to work together to resist such move and also protect the people's rights.
Meanwhile, the party chief, Rashed Khan Menon, told The Daily Star that the army has played its due role.
“I hope that the army will continue their service showing respect to the constitution and democracy like this time.”
Congratulating the government for not keeping the nation in the dark over the matter, Menon said if the people are united and well informed about such ill-attempts, they themselves can put those down.