Staff Reporter :
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has accused allies of the deposed Sheikh Hasina regime of attempting to create chaos in the country with the goal of destabilising the interim government.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made these claims during a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s office in Gulshan on Saturday.
“After the fall of the autocrat Hasina and the interim government taking responsibility, the same culprits have started creating one issue after another to destabilise the country.
The current unrest in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) is one such problem,” Fakhrul said. Expressing concern over the recent
violence in the CHT, Fakhrul suggested that the unrest could be part of a broader plot to undermine the interim administration. “I do not see these incidents in the CHT as isolated events. There are numerous factors involved,” he said.
The BNP leader emphasised the importance of the interim government engaging in dialogue with major political parties to address the unrest in the CHT effectively.
“We believe this is undoubtedly part of a strategy to destabilise the government and the political landscape of Bangladesh.
This ongoing process can be seen as an attempt to trigger a counter-revolution, aiming to undo the benefits gained through the recent uprising. More importantly, there is a concerted effort to depoliticise the country,” Fakhrul stated.
Fakhrul also referenced remarks made by the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her time in India, noting their impact on the political situation in Bangladesh.
“The overall situation is far from comfortable… in fact, it is quite uncomfortable. I can say there are valid reasons for concern,” he added.
The BNP leader speculated that vested interests might be seeking to exploit the political vacuum in Bangladesh in light of ongoing unrest in Myanmar and the rebellion in India’s Manipur state.
“When we consider these factors together, I believe these geopolitical incidents are very significant. However, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on this at the moment,” he said.
Fakhrul pointed to several recent events, including the encirclement of the Secretariat by Ansar forces, unrest in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector, various demands from different groups, mob lynchings at Dhaka and Jahangirnagar universities, and efforts to disrupt communal harmony.
He alleged that these incidents were being orchestrated by allies of the ousted regime to stir unrest.
The BNP leader called on bureaucrats and other stakeholders to provide accurate advice to the interim government.
“This government is serious about its responsibilities and wants to accomplish significant reforms. They are capable of achieving much, and we should cooperate. We have already seen them take important initiatives,” he said.
Fakhrul urged the interim government to engage in talks with major political parties to navigate the challenges facing the country. “Our recommendation is to engage in discussions with established political parties, especially the major ones,” he suggested.
He also stressed the importance of honouring existing peace agreements in the CHT and encouraged the government to engage with various stakeholders to resolve the ongoing tensions in the region.