BNP's intentions is not good: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said BNP's intentions is not good as the party wants to hold rally on a street instead of a ground for creating anarchy.

"There are many grounds in Dhaka city and adjoining areas of the capital. But they (BNP) want to hold rally at Naya Paltan. What is their intention? In fact, the intention of holding the rally at Naya Paltan is to vandalize vehicles, create chaos and public sufferings. For this, they want to hold the rally in front of their office in Naya Paltan. There is a nefarious purpose behind it," he said.

The minister said this to reporters while replying to a query after speaking at an anti-tobacco view exchange meeting organised by Unnayan Samannyo at an auditorium of Biswa Sahitya Kendra in the city. Unnayan Samannyo chairman and Bangladesh Bank former governor Dr Atiur Rahman was present.

Hasan said the government doesn't want to obstruct any rally. If it (government) wants, they could not hold any rally, he added.

But the reality is that BNP had carried out grenade and bombs attacks on many rallies of Awami League and killed many people. On the other hand, a single cocktail did not blast in their (BNP) rally, he added.

He said the government is providing all-out cooperation to them, so they complete their rallies peacefully. And they are holding their rallies peacefully, said Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary.

Replying to a query over militant issue, the minister said BNP is the chief patron and financer of militancy in the country. Begum Khaleda Zia had opposed the arrest of militants and there are militants groups in their (BNP) alliance, he added.

He said the rise of militancy and the statement of Mirza Fakhrrul Islam Alamgir is linked and they want to create unstable situation in the country. They want to fish in muddled water, he added.

He said Bangladesh is marching ahead under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amid the ongoing war. The vice-president of the World Bank has praised the development of the country to the premier and he told that it is an example before other countries, he added.

Saying that the BNP leaders including Mirza Fakhrul are educated persons, he hoped they will study and hear the comments of the world leaders about Bangladesh.