It's not BNP's knees, but AL's back that is broken: Fakhrul
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said BNP’s knees are not broken but Awami League’s (AL) back is broken.
He said AL has already conceded defeat as the party has started attacking peaceful gatherings, processions and programmes with sticks, guns and tear gas.
Fakhrul came up with these remarks at a gathering staged at Naya Paltan in the capital on Thursday protesting the attack of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) on Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders and activists on Dhaka University (DU) campus.
Earlier on Wednesday, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader claimed BNP relies on a walking stick because of its broken knees.
In response to his claim, BNP secretary general said, “Yesterday, Obaidul Quader said BNP’s knees were broken. We do no use walking sticks. Your back is broken, which is why you are walking with sticks, machetes, swords and the guns of police.”
He claimed AL is completely isolated as they have no connection with the people. That is why they have to use the state machinery to stay in power.
Terming AL as a terrorist party which was born through terrorism, Fakhrul said, "On one hand they say we have given pens on our golden boys, but actually they have provided guns, pistols, sticks and so on to these 'golden boys'. They have been destroying Bangladesh’s education system in a planned manner. They have not only created an incident at the University of Dhaka today but created a harrowing ordeal at Eden College through factional clashes. They sealed the Chittagong University due to indifference about forming a committee. Which university has been spared?"
Fakhrul alleged the government undertook an oppressive policy since the start of their movement protesting against the abnormal price hike of daily essentials including fuel.
He said, “You have seen, we started peaceful protests from 22 August. At the start of that movement they killed Nure Alam of Chhatra Dal, Abdur Rahim in Bhola, Shawon in Narayanganj and Shahidul Islam Shawon in Munshiganj. When people started to rise, they resorted to terror to repress that.”
Regarding the comment of police super of Munshiganj about the killing of Shawon, the BNP secretary general said, "The police officer said Shawon died from the injury created by brick chips. That was an utter lie. The physicians stated at Shawon’s death certificate that he died of massive head injury due to gun shot."
Fakhrul said, “Naturally they will lie. The prime minister is relentlessly lying abroad. She gave an interview to BBC. She stated there that elections are fair only during the Awami League regime. They came to power through election. Bangladesh people are laughing at them.”
Fakhrul told the leader and activists of Chhatra Dal, the only reply of their atrocity and oppression is that this government must be gone. Inshallah, people shall win, he said.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam said, “The time is not over, read the writing on the wall, tender in your resignation and stop talking nonsense. Dissolve the parliament and make a safe exit handing over the power to the caretaker government. We will form a people’s government through election under the new election commission. This is our prime goal.”
Talking about the BCL attacks on JCD leaders and activists on DU campus, the BNP leader said with flowers and sweets, the students went to the campus to meet the VC. But they were assaulted by BCL.
“We are expressing strong condemnation to the VC. He could have shown sympathy to the students but he couldn’t,” Fakhrul added.
In his speech, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi bitterly criticised the gazette ensuring security of Benazir Ahmed, the inspector generation of police (IGP), who will go into retirement from 30 September.
He questioned the prime minister why the government wants to provide security to the IGP. Previously, no IGP received such privilege. So, why is the government ensuring his security even after retirement? The reasons behind this will be found out.