The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said that it is time for the government to leave.
鈥楾o save this country, we have to move forward with new ideas. All patriotic people and political forces should unite and save the nation. We have to overcome the danger and move forward with courage. A just claim must be met,鈥� Fakhrul said while speaking at a discussion in Dhaka.
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal organised the discussion marking the 43rd death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
Fakhrul said that Ziaur Rahman was not just a leader to the BNP, but he was a great hero.
He said that Zia was the founder of multi-party democracy and the architect of a prosperous Bangladesh.
鈥楢fter independence, oppression descended on the common people of this country. Killings and torture were perpetrated by the Rakkhi Bahini. All but four of the country鈥檚 media outlets were shut down in 11 minutes,鈥� he said.
Nearly 30,000 youths who opposed were killed, he said, adding that people are being fooled today.
鈥楤ut people know and understand everything. This government is trying to establish one-party rule by torture, killing, enforced disappearance and crushing of thousands of people,鈥� he said, and added that people had to follow Ziaur Rahman if they want to fight and survive.
He further said that former United States ambassador to Bangladesh William B Mylam wrote in the foreword of a book that if Ziaur Rahman had been killed in 1975 instead of 1981, Bangladesh would have ended up as a failed state.鈥�
Fakhrul said that now looting is the only goal of this government.
鈥楾his government abolished the caretaker government system to be in power for an indefinite period,鈥� he said.
Asking who created former Army chief Aziz Ahmed and former police chief Benazir Ahmed, Fakhrul said that news of their corruption is coming out from all directions.
鈥楴ot only in Dhaka city but in other urban areas also, the news of their corruption has come out. It鈥檚 not just one or two of them. A former state minister has more than 300 houses in London,鈥� he said.
Fakhrul said that all those who love the country should unite and come forward to save it.
鈥極ur movement will continue and go from strength to strength. Our acting chairman Tarique Rahman is leading this movement. Our chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia has never bowed down to injustice. We have nothing to lose,鈥� he said.
BNP vice chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, chairperson鈥檚 advisers Abdus Salam and Fazlur Rahman, joint secretary general Mujibur Rahman Sarwar and Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal and others addressed the discussion chaired by Muktijoddha Dal acting president Nazrul Islam and moderated by its general secretary Sadek Ahmed Khan.
