DHAKA, Nov 3, 2023 (BSS) - Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan
Mahmud said BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and his gang of killers had unequivocal
involvement with both Bangabandhu assassination on August 15 and murders of
four national leaders inside Dhaka jail on November 3 in 1975.
 
"So, BNP never expresses grief on Jail Killing Day. Now the party has turned
into people's opponent due to its nasty terrorist activities during the
hartal, which are heinous than those of dacoits and thieves," he said while
replying to reporters after paying homage to national leaders at Banani
graveyard.
 
Hasan, also Awami League joint general secretary, was among the party's
central leaders to lay wreaths at graves of four national leaders at Banani
graveyard and earlier they also paid tributes to Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreaths at his portrait at
Dhanmondi-32.
 
The minister said the four national leaders - Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin
Ahmad, Captain Mansur Ali and AHM Quamruzzaman were political colleagues of
Bangabandhu and in death, they also accompanied the great leader as they were
also assassinated in the same year following Bangabandhu's brutal
assassination along with most of his family members.
 
Even before being assassinated, they didn't betray with the ideals of
Bangabandhu and never derailed themselves from their principles by any kinds
of persuasion.
 
The four national leaders showed how to accept martyrdom by staying
unwavering towards ideology, he said.
 
Replying to contemporary political issues, he said BNP's heinous activities
on October 28 faced protests across the world and subsequently they again
called a three-day siege and carried out attacks on common people and
vandalized and torched vehicles.
 
Thieves and dacoits also make wrongdoings but they don't torch people alive
and set fire on their properties.
 
BNP is no more a political party rather a terrorist one as they are now
announcing programme from "cave" on virtual platforms likewise terrorist
groups, he said.
 
The AL joint general secretary said they are determined to resist and
eliminate the terrorism and militant activities with the engagement of the
people.
 
About BNP's fresh 48-hour siege programme, he announced that they along with
people will build robust resistance against the anarchy.
 
In politics, it is natural that a party will hold programme, demonstrations
and make comments against the ruling party and the government; however, BNP
has set itself as more heinous than banned militant outfits as it is out to
torch people alive and their vehicles and other properties as well as carry
out attacks on journalists.
 
He also appealed to the people to build strong resistance against those
anarchic activities.
 
Asked about pre-election dialogue, Hasan said election arrangement is not the
jurisdiction of the government rather the Election Commission (EC) does it
but government plays the role of facilitator and perform only routine duty
after announcement of polls schedule.
 
"If EC calls dialogue, we will join. Apart from that dialogues can be held
among political parties but not with any terrorist organization," he said.