BNP spokesperson Shamsuzzaman Dudu has termed the government-issued press note on the Motijheel operation as worthless, saying it was nothing but a reflection of the statements that have been made by some ministers of the Awami League-led Grand Alliance government. “BNP wanted to know how many bullets were used to flush out activists of Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh (HIB) from Motijheel Shapla Chattar, on May 5. How many people were killed, and who were engaged in launching the eviction drive. The government did not make these clear before the nation, through its press note,” he said.
“The government press note reflected what the Premier, the home minister and the ruling party leaders have been saying since the incident. It was not a government press note, but a party version,” Dudu added.
Responding to the government press note over the Motijheel operation, Dudu made this remarks at a press briefing, held at the party’s Naya Paltan central office in Dhaka, on Saturday afternoon.
“What we wanted to know from the government, about the Motijheel crackdown on May 5, we did not find those in the press note. What we got, we did not want; even the nation did not expect,” he added.
Terming the incident as a heinous chapter of history, he said a local probe body has not been formed, though the opposition party demanded forming an international investigation committee, to look into the matter, he said.
Expressing his grave concerns, Dudu, also the adviser to BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, said foreign investors will not come forward to invest in Bangladesh, if accurate information in this regard is not presented.
The government issued press note termed the rumour of loss of thousands of lives in the Motijhel operation as completely baseless, fabricated and ill-motivated.
About Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s fresh proposal for the dialogue, Dudu said his party is always in favour of dialogue, but a congenial atmosphere and specific agenda are needed, to make it a success. Sheikh Hasina, on Saturday, urged Khaleda Zia to join parliament and discuss all issues, to resolve the country’s ongoing political crisis, shunning the politics of issuing ultimatums.
Dudu said that most of the opposition party leaders are in jail. False and fabricated cases are being filed against them. The government should create a congenial atmosphere first, by ensuring their unconditional release, and then talk about dialogue, he added.
Referring to a survey report published in a daily newspaper, he said 90 per cent people are in favour of holding the general election under a non-party caretaker government.
“All sorts of problems faced by the country, including the political standoff, will be resolved, if Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina meets the CG restoration demand,” he added.
Urging the government to refrain from unleashing state terror on the opposition party programmes, he said BNP-led 18 Party Alliance is going to stage a public meeting in the capital, on Monday.
“A tougher anti-government campaign will be announced, and the ruling Awami League will be held responsible, if our rally is hindered in any way,” he sounded a note caution.
-With The Independent input
