Rally accuses AL of roping cop, army chiefs in to hold power

Staff Reporter :
Allegations that former Inspector General of Police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed and former Chief of Army Staff Aziz Ahmed were instrumental in securing the Awami League’s hold on power for three consecutive terms have sparked protests in the capital.

Demonstrators accused the government of leveraging these officials to maintain an illegitimate grip on power and are now staging a performance by prosecuting them.

These allegations were raised at a protest rally organized on Wednesday afternoon at the National Press Club by Gonotantro Mancha.

The event aimed to denounce what organizers described as “mega corruption by Benazir and Aziz under government patronage, and the public suffering over the Malaysian labor market.”

Mahmudur Rahman Manna, President of Nagorik Oikya, was vocal at the rally, asserting, “Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader claimed that Benazir and Aziz are not part of their party. But everyone in the country and the whole world knows who their godfathers are.

The Awami League has held power for three consecutive terms through them. Interpol-listed mafia Anar (Anwarul Azim) is supposedly a popular leader of the Awami League. The party runs through these individuals now.” Hasnat Kaiyum, Chief Coordinator of the State Reform Movement, alleged that Aziz and Benazir had amassed billions of taka with government backing. He claimed the government exploited these officials to stay in power illegally and is now feigning prosecution.

“With government collusion, Benazir has fled the country. There are hundreds more Benazirs, Azizs, and Anars within the government. If this government remains in power, thousands more such miscreants will be born,” Kaiyum warned.

Jonayed Saki, Chief Coordinator of the Ganosamhati Andolon, criticized the government for appointing Aziz as army chief and Benazir as the director general of RAB, and later IGP. “Now they claim these individuals are not part of their team. I tell the government, you are in power without the people’s vote; don’t think everyone is foolish. Stop these schemes and resign. You’ve destroyed the economy. Worse times are coming. You survived in 2014 and 2018, but you won’t survive this time,” Saki said.