Staff Reporter :
In a strongly worded statement, Tarique Rahman, Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), accused the Awami League of harboring a longstanding hostility toward democracy.
Rahman’s comments come in response to the recent treatment of Asif Nazrul, Legal Adviser to the incumbent Interim Government, which he called disrespectful and damaging to the country’s dignity.
The incident reportedly occurred on Thursday evening local time, when Professor Nazrul faced hostile behavior from alleged Awami League affiliates outside Geneva Airport on his way to France.
According to Rahman, this incident exemplifies the authoritarian tendencies of the deposed ruling party, which, he claimed, have extended beyond Bangladesh’s borders. Rahman’s statement criticized the behavior of Awami League supporters abroad, accusing them of being influenced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s “fascist ideology.”
He further alleged that party members are quick to intimidate and attack democratic forces whenever the opportunity arises, a trend that he argued reflects the Awami League’s longstanding disregard for democratic principles, human rights, the rule of law, and the independence of the judiciary.
The BNP leader asserted that the Awami League has consistently fostered disunity, misconduct, corruption, and authoritarianism in the country’s politics, exemplified by incidents of alleged violence, disappearances, and financial misconduct.
He went on to state that ousted Prime Minister Hasina’s supporters, both in Bangladesh and abroad, are deeply frustrated with the democratic aspirations of the people, allegedly resorting to violence or harassment to stifle dissent.
Rahman’s statement further alleged that Sheikh Hasina, operating from abroad, is actively working to destabilize the political landscape in Bangladesh. He accused her of relying on a network of corrupt beneficiaries to further the party’s influence internationally and stated that those who align with such anti-democratic efforts should be identified, brought under legal scrutiny, and appropriately penalized.
In concluding, Rahman reiterated that the Awami League’s antagonistic stance towards democracy is a hallmark of its governance, condemning what he termed “the authoritarian and corrupt practices” of the ruling party.
He called for vigilance against such forces, advocating for strict legal action to uphold the democratic values of Bangladesh.
