Branding the Home Minister MK Alamgir as a “common enemy” of the enemy, the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Tuesday demanded his resignation from the cabinet.
The call came Tuesday at BNP condolence processionfrom its NayaPaltan headquarters in Dhaka to mark the Savar Tragedy.
Addressing the demonstration,vice chairman of the BNP Sadeque Hossain Khoka said: “Many Awami League leaders including ministers said [the Home Minister] is talkative and makes no sense. I think he is a common enemy of the country.”
Khoka said: “If the Prime Minister has any sympathy for the victims of the Savar Tragedy, she should dismiss the Home Minister from the cabinet and send him to Pabna Mental Hospital.”
The BNP leader also asked the government to arrest the local MP of Savar, Murad Jhang and file a case mentioning him as one of the perpetrators.
“If the government fails to ensure that the culprits are punished, on assuming office, the BNP will form a judicial probe committee to investigate the incident and to ensure their trial,” Khoka said.
Khoka, also a former mayor of Dhaka city, alleged that the government has completely failed to carry out its duty in the rescue operations in Savar.
“We saw that rescuers asked for machinery but the government failed to provide it. This proved that this government does not think of the people’s welfare,” he said.
Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, a standing committee member of the party, asked for Sohel Rana, the owner of Rana Plaza and Murad Jhang, local MP to be charged with murder.
He alleged that the government might be plotting to save those responsible for the collapse which left around 400 dead and some 2,500 injured.
“There are some loopholes in the cases filed against the owner of Rana Plaza. These loopholes were kept to save thoseresponsible for the tragedy. If the government [attempts this], they will be tried in the court of people if Khaleda Zia assumes the office,” he said.
The BNP leader also said the government showedindifference after the building collapse.
“If the government have given any importance to the incident, more lives could be saved,” he said.
Terming the tragedy “a man-made disaster”, Mosharraf said Sohel Rana constructed the building illegally, using his political power.
“The building was risky, but the workers were forced to come and were pushed into the death hole.”
The procession, which started from the party office and marched through Kakrail, Shantinagar, Mouchak, Malibag ended at the Mogbazar intersection. Thousands of party leaders and activists participated in the march. Traffic in the areas came to a halt during the procession.