BNP Standing Committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on Monday said Awami League (AL) has been caught in a trap of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh.
“They (AL)) cancelled the registration of Jamaat but did not outlaw it. Should I say they have a secret relation with Jamaat,” he stated, reports UNB.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said the ruling party always tried to make a political gain by involving BNP with Jamaat, but it is time now to ensure that Awami League involves Jamaat. “Jamaat is an Urdu word like Awami. So, calling Awami-Jamaat instead of BNP-Jamaat will match better.”
He said when Jammat was with BNP it was called a party of war criminals. “But why didn't you still declare them illegal? It means Awami League has fallen into the trap of Jamaat. “From today, it’ll be called an Awami-Jamaat (pact). BNP-Jamaat (pact) will no longer exist.”
As part of the party’s programme to hold 16 rallies in the capital, the Dhanmondi zone of BNP's Dhaka south city unit arranged the rally in a field near Sikdar Medical College Hospital at Hazaribagh in protest against the price hike of fuel, daily essentials and the killing of four opposition leaders in Bhola, Narayanganj and Munshiganj in police firing.
Before the start of the rally, activists of BNP and the ruling Awami League locked in a chase and counter-chase in the Hazaribagh area, leaving at least 25 people, including two journalists, injured.
The clash erupted around 2:55 pm as the supporters of local Awami League MP Shafiul Islam Mohiuddin tried to obstruct BNP activists from joining their rally venue.
Both groups also engaged in a chase and counter-chase and beat their opponents with sticks until police rushed in and brought the situation under control.
The rally ended peacefully in presence of a huge number of law enforcers.
About the clash, Tuku said they held the rally braving many obstacles as the ruling party men attacked BNP activists from different lanes and alleys on their way to the programme.
He thanked law enforcers for extending cooperation to BNP in holding the rally.
Recalling that many members of the police sacrificed their lives for democracy during the Liberation War, Tuku called upon the law enforcers to stand beside people who are carrying out a struggle for democracy as their predecessors did.
He said their party activists are now being forced to take sticks in their hands for their self-protection since the ruling party men are attacking them in different parts of the country.
The BNP leader said their party has been in a movement for establishing people’s rights and restoring democracy instead of going to power.
Speaking at the programme, BNP south city unit convener Abdus Salam slammed the ruling party for attacking their leaders and activists without any provocation.
He also expressed regrets as some journalists came under attack during the clash with ruling party activists.