Awami League govt a ghost of Pakistani oppressors: Mirza Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said the current Awami League government is the ghost of Pakistani occupation forces and autocratic rulers as it destroyed democracy and snatched people’s rights by resorting to repression.

“Had you (freedom fighters) fought for current Bangladesh? Today’s Bangladesh (under AL govt) is an evil spirit of the Pakistani occupation forces of 1971 and the despotic rulers of Pakistan,” he said.

Speaking at a gathering of freedom fighters, the BNP leader also alleged that the ‘usurper’ Awami League regime is exploiting and terribly oppressing the people of Bangladesh in the same way the Pakistanis ruled and suppressed people and sucked their blood, reports UNB.

He said the freedom fighters joined the Liberation War with a dream of building a happy, prosperous, democratic and independent Bangladesh free from discrepancy. “But Awami League has dashed that dream snatching people’s all rights and destroying democracy.”

“It’s unfortunate that those who fought the Liberation War have to say after 52 years of independence that we did not get that Bangladesh (for which we fought),” Fakhrul lamented.

He said that Awami League always claims that they led the Liberation War, but it actually exposed its real face when it came to power soon after the independence of the country in 1972 by indulging in looting, stealing and oppressing and killing their opponents. “They even killed freedom fighters and many youths.”

Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, the freedom fighters' wing of BNP, arranged the “mass gathering of freedom fighters” at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking the 53rd Independence Day. Freedom fighters from across the country took part in the programme by holding national flags in their hands.

At the beginning of his speech, Fakhrul paid homage to the memories of martyrs of the Liberation War and those who played outstanding roles in liberating the country.

He said the freedom fighters fought the Liberation War when they were young and liberated the country by putting their lives at risk.

The BNP leader said it is now the responsibility of the young generation to protect that independence, democracy and the rights of people. “You (youths) have to move towards another liberation war to protect the citizens of the country and their right to vote and the right to live. We all must get united to save the country and bring back democracy by ousting the current regime.”

Referring to the death of a female employee of Naogaon union parishad land office in RAB custody, Fakhrul said people have now no security in the country.

He said the US enforced sanctions on RAB and it was a shameful incident for the nation. “That RAB has now again been accused of torturing and killing a woman. The saddest thing is that she was made accused in a case filed under the Digital Security Act.”

The BNP leader said though the incidents of extrajudicial killings marked a decline after the US sanctions on RAB, such incidents are happening again as the government did not take action against the RAB officials who were reportedly involved in extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances.

“Rather, they are being rewarded. They are getting bigger posts. They are being told to be nominated as MPs and even someone will be made Home Minister. I saw such reports in the newspapers,” he said.

Fakhrul said there is no rule of law and democratic institutions in the country while all the rights of people have been taken away by the government.”