‘What kind of Bangladesh is this?’
Expressing grave concern over the country's deteriorating law and order situation, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said violence broke out on the streets within about three months after the people achieved a victory on August 5.
"It has only been three months, and already fights have begun on the streets. People are shedding each other's blood. Now, newspaper offices are being set on fire, and attacked… … Is this the outcome of the sacrifices people made?" he said at a discussion at the Jatiya Press Club.
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Fakhrul said, "What kind of Bangladesh is this? Why this terrifying violence occurring today? Why is there instability? What are the problems? I raise these questions before you."
The July uprising gave the people the opportunity to get united and bring about a meaningful change, he said.
Expressing regret, Fakhrul said, "It has only been three months, and already our true nature is beginning to reveal. With this behaviour, success can never be achieved."
Stressing the need for unity, the BNP leader said no problem can be fixed if division and conflict persist in the country.
Expressing deep concern over the "madness that erupted in the name of religion" and recent attacks on media offices, he said, "Despite our long battle for a free and independent press, media offices are being torched now. This is not the Bangladesh we envisioned, at least not the one I want to see."
Referring to social media posts calling for arson, Fakhrul warned of further conflicts.
"The madness doesn't end there... Calls for burning and destroying are being made. Can you imagine where they are trying to take Bangladesh… Do we recognise the assailant standing behind us with a dagger? Clearly, we do not. If we did, we would not have uttered such irresponsible words," he said.
The BNP secretary general condemned the recent attacks on several newspaper offices, including the Prothom Alo and The Daily Star.
"I strongly condemn this. I have fought for press freedom all my life. That is my aim, my belief, my trust," Fakhrul said.
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