Gazipur’s ex-acting mayor Karim joins BNP

Abdul Karim, former acting-mayor of Gazipur municipality, along with around a hundred followers joined Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Saturday.

Karim formally joined BNP by presenting a bouquet to party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.

Giving his instant reaction, Karim said he had joined BNP to work for the ‘restoration’ of democracy and the rule of law in the country.

“We love the country. We want people to remain in peace in a democratic atmosphere. So, I’ve joined BNP to bring democracy back, ensure the rule of law and take the country forward,” he added.

A Jatiya Party leader, Karim acted as the acting mayor of Gazipur municipality during Ershad’s rule. Later, he joined Awami League, said BNP chairperson’s media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan.

Speaking at the joining programme, Mirza Fakhrul greeted Karim and his followers and asked them to work for strengthening their party in Gazipur.

“There’s no alternative to strengthening the organisation. You’ll get success in the movement and the elections too if you’ve a strong organisation. Our party leaders and activists should keep it in mind,” he said.

Fakhrul alleged that the government has depoliticised the country in a planned way to enforce a one-party rule. “They (govt) repeatedly amended the constitution as part of their plot to eliminate politics from Bangladesh. Their main target is to keep only one party in the country.”

The BNP secretary general said Awami League is now out to establish one-party Baksal rule as it did it 1975.

“Many of us have forgotten that a youth was beheaded by his father for his involvement with the opposition party at that time (during Baksal rule) and they (AL leaders) played football with the head of a youth. This is history. The same way, they’re now repressing the opposition leaders and activists using the state machinery,” he observed.

The BNP leader said the country is now in a very bad shape for lack of good governance and the rule of law. “Misrule is everywhere in the country. Innocent people are getting killed, women and children are raped and extrajudicial killings are going on as there’s no rule of law. Even, people are languishing in jail years after years without any trial.”

Fakhrul accused the government of destroying the country’s economy and banking sector through widespread plundering and corruption. “They’ve now ruined our leather industry.”

“The leather industry is facing the destruction due to the foul play of corrupt business syndicate and lack of any government policy,” the BNP leader alleged.

Fakhrul urged the government to free their chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail for the restoration of democracy in the country.