Staff Reporter :
The BNP announced on Thursday that it will continue to support Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus-led interim government as long as it remains committed to democracy.
“The BNP has to support this interim government. It is the outcome of a mass upsurge and movement of the country’s students and the masses.
We will back this government as long as it remains in favour of democracy and transferring power through democratic procedures,” BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said while addressing a sit-in programme in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office in the capital.
The party observed a two-day sit-in programme across the country on Wednesday and Thursday, demanding the trial of the fallen dictator Hasina and her party leaders and aides for carrying out genocide during the recent student-led mass movement.
The BNP Secretary General expressed the expectation that the interim government would hold a national election after providing relief to the people.
“As we want power to be transferred to an elected government through a democratic election, we will allow a reasonable amount of time to this interim government,” he said.
Mirza Fakhrul also highlighted the sacrifices made by the BNP over the past 16 years for democracy, noting that many party members have been killed, repressed, or forcibly disappeared.
He thanked the students for their role in creating a mass upsurge that toppled the 16-year regime of the autocrat Hasina.
He stated that nearly 1,000 students and people were shot and killed across the country by Hasina’s dictatorship.
“But Allah is also harsh in ensuring justice as she (Sheikh Hasina) has to finally flee the country to where her roots are established,” the BNP leader said.
Mirza Fakhrul urged Awami League leaders and activists to shun excessive actions.
“If they do something excessive, they won’t be able to sustain themselves,” he said, suggesting that they should surrender willingly for their misdeeds.
He demanded that the trial of Awami League leaders be conducted at the International Crimes Tribunal for their involvement in massacres and crimes against humanity soon.
He also warned his party’s leaders and activists against engaging in any wrongdoing that could reflect negatively on the party’s image.
However, he urged them to stay united in defending the second independence and thwart any conspiracies by the Awami League.
“Now the Awami League is trying to tarnish the image of Bangladesh by spreading false propaganda about attacks on minorities. There are no minorities here in our country.
The Awami League is hatching a conspiracy to return to power with the help of India using such false tricks.
Everyone has to be alert to this issue,” the BNP leader warned. He said such a conspiracy must be foiled.
The BNP leader asked the AL men to surrender for committing massacres against the people of Bangladesh.
He said, “You (AL) have seen the uprisings of ’69, ’71, and 2024. So, be cautious and surrender. Don’t try to hatch conspiracies further.”