BNP lobbying to foreigners sensing defeat in polls: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Tuesday said BNP leaders are going to foreign diplomats instead of the countrymen as they know that the party has no hope in next polls.

"The BNP leaders know that they have no chance to win if they participate in elections. For this reason, they are involved in plotting various conspiracies. And the party is lobbing to foreign diplomats instead of going to the people," he said, replying to a query of reporters at the meeting room of his ministry at Secretariat here.

Dr Hasan Mahmud, also Joint General Secretary of Awami League, said the hearts of people could not be won through visiting the foreign envoys. They will have to go to the people to win and to get support, said Hasan.

Criticising a comment of the BNP secretary general over polls issue, the minister said BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, before 2008's election, had told that Awami League would not get more than 30 seats if the elections will be held in a free, fair and transparent manners.

The 2008's polls were held in very neutrally and BNP got only 29 seats, he added.

"Now, Begum Zia is in prison. And I won't be surprised if the prediction of Mirza Fakhrul comes true for his own party. It is not appropriate to talk about such nonsense," he added.

Replying to another query, Hasan said there is no scope of going to elections under the Awami League as the polls will be held under the Election Commission (EC).

The minister hoped that all political parties including BNP will take part in the next polls which will be held under the EC.

Expressing his due respect to Dr Kamal Hossain, he said BNP hired heavyweight politician Dr Kamal in 2018 polls. But, he didn't play well and BNP secured only seven seats, he added.

And now, BNP depends on microscopic parties and did alliances with about 51 to 52 parties, he said.

Replying to another query over his recent visit in Panchagarh, Hasan said everyone knows that who carried out the attacks and who led the incident. Arson attacks on the Ahmadiyya community in Panchagarh are similar to the 2013, 2014 and 2015 anarchies and BNP has admitted that they did it. The posts of BNP leaders Rumin Farhana, GM Siraj and Harun-or-Rashid in social platforms have proved that they carried out the incident, he added.

On the other hand, the minister said, Mirza Fakhrul, on March 13 at Thakhurgaon, has claimed that they didn't do it. But, the party leaders have proved that who did it and it is clear like broad daylight, he added.

In fact, he said, they wanted to create instability across the country which was not succeeded.

Hasan said tough actions are being taken against those who were involved in the heinous crime. Twenty cases were lodged, 120 persons have been arrested so far and directives have been given to take actions against those who are involved in the attacks irrespective of party affiliation, he said.

Later, the minister exchanged views with the Indian representatives involved with making biopic of Bangabandhu.

Scriptwriter Atul Tiwari, line producer Satish Sharma, assistant director Doyal Nihalani and Nation Film Development Corporation of India chief Pandurang P Mat informed about the latest activities of the biopic.

Information and Broadcasting Secretary Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker and Film Development Corporation managing director Nuzhat Yesmin, among others, were present in the meeting.