BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday accused the Awami League of eliminating its political opponents through what he said enforced disappearances and political killings to establish a one-party rule.
“It is the Awami League’s old desire that as long as Bangladesh exists they will be in power. They are indulging in enforced disappearances and killings with the only political goal of hanging onto power,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, Fakhrul said the Awami League tried but failed to impose one-party Baksal rule in 1975.
“They are now trying to establish the one-party rule in a different style, changing their strategy. They are eliminating those who are creating obstacles to achieving this goal.”
BNP arranged the program, titled “Return All the Victims of Enforced Disappearance, Including Ilias Ali", at a city hotel marking the 10th year of the “enforced disappearance” of former party MP Ilias Ali.
A video clip on the disappearance of over 600 BNP leaders and activists was presented at the beginning of the program.
Fakhrul said the people wanted to raise their voice for the restoration of their lost rights but could not do that as the government had created an awful suffocating situation across the country.
"We have to get out of this situation and we’re trying to do that. We will surely be able to wage a strong movement in the future with all our political parties to defeat the terrible monster regime and establish a truly representative government of the people,” he said.
The BNP secretary general called upon the opposition political parties to initiate a united movement for the protection of national independence and sovereignty, restoration of democracy and ensuring the safe return of those who were subjected to enforced disappearance.
Ilias Ali's wife Tahsina Rushdir Luna and some other family members of the missing BNP leaders spoke at the program narrating the ordeals they were going through losing their husbands, fathers, sons and brothers.
They, however, said they would wait for the return of their loved ones.