Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury on Friday criticized BNP for being inactive against the government’s “misdeeds,” and said the party has become infected with “coronavirus.”
He said: "Now BNP has also become infected with coronavirus and become too weak to take to the streets. Their spines are broken. This party is now in such fragile condition that their boundary is limited to the (National) Press Club front road to form a human chain with of 50 people,"
Dr Zafrullah, also a pro-BNP intellectual, made the remarks while speaking at a human-chain program in front of the National Press Club arranged by Gonotantra Forum, protesting the violence against women and children.
He said BNP can take to the streets with at least 100 people at every ward of Dhaka city on public issues if it wants.
Dr Zafrullah warned that BNP will have to face a more difficult time in the days to come if the party leaders and activists do not become active and raise their voice regarding public issues.
He suggested BNP hold a national council to revive the party through an overhaul. "People still love Khaleda Zia. She should hold the council meeting while she remains out of jail."
On September 15, the government extended by another six months BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's conditional release from jail in two corruption cases.
As per conditions of the release, Khaleda Zia will not be allowed to go abroad for treatment, instead having to stay home and receive treatment there. She was originally released on the same conditions.
Dr Zafrullah said the government should allow Khaleda to receive treatment at a hospital of her choice, either at home or abroad, since it had extended her release from jail.
He called upon people to take to the streets to warn the government against its “misdeeds and corruption.”
He said: "I would like to tell the government enough is enough. You've committed enough misdeeds and you please stop now. The country cannot run in this way. The nation is in misery in every sector. We must take to the streets to get rid of the current condition."
Dr Zafrullah, a freedom fighter, said the country's women are not safe outside their homes as incidents of rape allegedly by Chhatra League men had increased alarmingly.
He said Chhatra League men could not have indulged in the “grand festival of rape and mass-rape” had there been good governance in the country.