Terming the criticisms over BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s role in the Liberation War a conspiracy, Ganasamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki has warned the BNP leaders not to fall into the trap set up by the government.
"Don't enter into a debate over Ziaur Rahman's grave, or whether he actually fired his gun [during the Liberation War],” he said at an event at the National Press Club on Thursday, responding to the recent remarks by senior Awami League leaders including the prime minister.
He said as another election was looming, “the issue of electoral democracy has come to the fore again.”
Mentioning that BNP was an important political party in the country, he said: “You [BNP] should look forward. Prepare for the next election so that no one can rig the ballot. Don't get involved in conspiracies of the government,”
Zonayed Saki had contested in the 11th general elections as a candidate of Biplobi Workers’ Party, and vied for the mayoral position in the Dhaka North City Corporation elections.
Speaking at the same event, Gonoshasthaya Kendra Founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury asked the BNP leaders to take to the streets rather than holding press conferences.
He said: “Come back to the streets. We will be with you too. We also want to establish democracy in the country with you… but not the democracy of the Awami League.”
He also asked the BNP leaders to read the party constitution again since they were not following the ideology of the founder, Ziaur Rahman, anymore.
Former Ducsu VP Nurul Haq Nur said the current state of politics in the country was sick.
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“Ziaur Rahman was a sector commander. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman awarded him [Ziaur Rahman] with the title Bir Uttam. Now they’re saying that Ziaur Rahman did not fight in the war. On the other hand, another group is demeaning Bangabandhu. What kind of politics is this?”
Nur said that they needed to introduce a new kind of politics in the country with the real freedom fighters.
Zonayed Saki recently asked the political parties of the country to form a national unity based on four goals that include the demand for resignation of the incumbent prime minister.
He also proposed that at least three national elections be held under an interim government, and that the current government must hand over power to the interim government.
Meanwhile, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said the ruling party leaders were constantly spitting venom against BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and his widow Khaleda Zia just out of political jealousy.
Fakhrul also urged the BNP leaders and activists to get ready for waging a fearless mass movement to “restore” democracy by ousting the government.
On the other hand, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader at an event on Thursday said: “Being desperate to seize the state power in an undemocratic and unconstitutional way, BNP wants to make the country’s democratic system questionable.”