AL back has already been broken: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said Awami League has already demonstrated their defeat as the party is now attacking peaceful programmes of BNP and students with sticks and guns.

“Obaidul Quader yesterday (Wednesday) said BNP is a party with broken knees, “You’re realising very well whether our knees are broken or not. We haven’t even taken sticks in our hands, but your back has already been broken,” he said.

Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader also said the government is not only using sticks, but also sharp weapons and swords and depending on the guns of police.

He said as the government has been depending on state machinery to cling to power since it has got completely isolated from people.

Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) arranged the rally in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office in protest against Bangladesh Chhatra League’s (BCL's) attack on its leaders and activists on the Dhaka University (DU) campus on Tuesday, reports UNB.

Fakhrul said Awami League has always been a ‘terrorist’ party and it was born through terrorism “They supplied guns, pistols, sticks to the hands of Chhatra League whom they call their golden boys. They destroyed Bangladesh’s educational system in a planned way.”

He said the BCL not only attacked JCD on the DU campus but also they created anarchy in all educational institutions in the country through infightings and feuds.

The BNP leader said the government has killed five opposition activists to suppress the ongoing movement for the restoration of democracy and voting and other rights of the people. “They (gov) have resorted to terrorism. They’re trying to subdue people by gunning them down and implicating them in false cases.”

He claimed that ‘false’ cases were filed against 25,000 opposition leaders and activists while over 3,000 others were injured in attacks on BNP’s different peaceful programmes.

The BNP leader criticised the Munshiganj Police Superintendent for his remark that Jubo Dal activist Shahidul Islam Shaon was killed after being hit by brick chips, not by bullets, saying it was written clearly in the death certificate issued by the Dhaka Medical College Hospital that he succumbed to injuries caused by gunshots.

PM lying abroad

Fakhrul alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is making ridiculous and false comments while staying abroad.

“The Prime Minister has been lying blatantly going abroad. In an interview with Voice of America, Washington she said all elections are free and fair under Awami League and people can freely exercise their right to franchise and they came to power through credible elections. “The people of Bangladesh are laughing at her assertions,” he said.

The BNP leader said newspapers are filled with news of murders, clashes, violence, lawlessness and rape every day as there is no democracy, no security for people and no voting rights of people. “It has become a failed state. The government has failed to ensure public security and control the prices of essentials.”

He urged the students to wake up as changes came in the past through the movements by the youth and students. “The change will also come this time through the sacrifice and a fierce movement by the students. Our only duty is now to unite all students and youth and people of all walks of life to force the government to quit through a strong movement. This would be the befitting reply to the government’s repressive acts. InsaAllah people will turn victorious.”

The BNP leader also urged the government to quit immediately for holding the next polls under a non-party neutral government instead of making reckless remarks.