Ensure security of foreigners to win confidence: BNP

Staff Reporter :
BNP has criticised Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her comment that BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia is conspiring from abroad to destabilize the country through killing foreigners living in Bangladesh.
BNP’s International Affairs Secretary and the party’s spokesman Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon in a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office on Saturday said that the PM can’t make such irresponsible comment.  
Sheikh Hasina, also the Awami League chief, at a meeting at Ganobhaban on Saturday made her comment about Khaleda Zia. She said that Khaleda Zia is killing foreign nationals to create panic among them for tainting the country’s image. The PM earlier on October 4 also blamed the BNP and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami for the two killings. Dr Ripon said that when the matter is under investigation, different quarters of the government, including the Prime Minister, are blaming the BNP and other opposition parties to tarnish the image of these parties. The BNP is calling for united efforts to face any unwanted situation, at the time the PM’s comment against the party is unexpected, he added.
About Islamic State’s involvement in the foreigners killing, the BNP leader said that the people of Bangladesh are religious, but not bigots and they do not support religious extremism. “When the foreigners are concern following the two killings and they don’t feel secured in this country, at the time we are also concerned about the image of the country. We urge the government to take united effort to overcome the situation,” Dr Ripon said.
He also said, “Our international friends are investigating the killing of the foreigners and IS’s involvement. The government has also clearly stated that there is no existence of IS in the country. We hope that all foreigners will feel secure in this country that exists on the principle of religious harmony.”
Italian national Cesare Tavella was shot dead in the diplomatic zone of Dhaka on September 28, while Japanese citizen Kunio Hoshi was killed in Rangpur on October 3. Police arrested some BNP leaders in connection with Japanese national. Rashed-un-Nabi Biplob, a leader of Rangpur city unit BNP, is one of the arrestees. A Rangpur court on Saturday sent Biplob into jail after remand. BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan alleged that the government is carrying out a ‘false’ campaign against BNP leaders involving them in foreigners killing in a bid to hide its failure.
Reacting to PM’s comment and comments of other ruling party leaders, he said the PM and the government are trying to defame the BNP by carrying the ‘false’ campaign. The PM’s allegation is an absurd allegation, he added. “Our party chief Begum Khaleda Zia has been undergoing treatment in London. At this age of technology, the government has all the information about when she (Khaleda Zia) is undergoing eye operation and going to doctor. Despite knowing everything, they are making bad comments and conducting propaganda,” Nazrul Islam Khan said at a discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity on Saturday.
He urged the government to ensure the security of the country’s people and foreigners shunning the ‘false’ campaign against BNP. “None is now safe in the country. Foreigners are our guests and their assistance is necessary for us. It is a shame for the nation that we cannot ensure foreigners’ security though they are coming to our country to take part in our development process,” he deplored. Voicing concern over media reports that many foreigners and buyers have been cancelling their Bangladesh tours following the killing of foreigners, the BNP leader said, “It is now crucial to ensure the security of foreigners and restore their confidence. Or else, our economy will be badly affected and the country will be destabilised. We don’t want to take any advantage of a volatile situation.”
He said that BNP wants to realise its political demands through a political movement, not harming the country and its image.