Awami League Joint General Secretary and Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Thursday sharply criticized the BNP's reported vandalism in Chittagong, saying Mirza Fakhrul Islam and other BNP leaders are teaching the youth to destroy the country's history, heritage and culture, and arson.
"BNP activists vandalized photo frames and a mural of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, ‘Master Da' Surya Sen, Maulana Maniruzzaman and other prominent persons who had played pivotal roles in historic movements, including the anti-British movement and the great Liberation War. It means the BNP does not respect our history, culture and heritage. They want to destroy those.
"My question is what are they teaching the youth? Are they teaching them vandalism and arson?" he asked.
The minister made the remarks while exchanging views with reporters after holding a meeting with the leaders of Bangladesh Sangbadpathra Parishad (BSP) at the conference room of the ministry at the Secretariat.
Hasan said about 100 paintings containing the history and heritage of the country have been placed in the Jamalakhan area of Chittagong. There is no other place in the country where history and heritage are displayed so beautifully, he added.
The full history of the country is depicted in these paintings on the walls, but BNP activists vandalized those on the way to a youth rally, he claimed. A case has already been lodged and the government is determined to take tough actions against the culprits, he added.
Replying to another query about the health of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, the minister said from the statements of BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, it seems that he got the FRCS (Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons) in secret and became a specialist doctor. Specialist doctors have said her health condition is stable while Mirza Fakhrul is claiming that Begum Khaleda Zia is in critical condition, he added.
Hasan said BNP leaders have made Begum Zia a “commodity of politics” and it is very humiliating for her. "With due respect to Begum Khaleda Zia, I would like to urge BNP leaders - please do not make Begum Zia's health issue a commodity of politics," said the ruling party leader.
Replying to another query about a letter from six US congressmen on the election of Bangladesh, the minister said the BNP earlier published fake letters in the name of congressmen.
He questioned the authenticity of the letter as the US State Department says it did not receive the letter.
At the meeting, BSP President and Awami League Advisory Council Member Mozaffar Hossain Paltu and General Secretary GM Kibria raised different demands to the minister.
In his speech, the information minister said a syndicate has been created centring on the newsprint business in the country. It was not even possible to begin production at Khulna Newspaper Mill despite several initiatives by the government due to the syndicate, Hasan added.
He said: "I discussed this issue with the prime minister several times. I think everyone needs to be vocal about this."