Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader on Sunday said the BPN’s attacks on Saturday and the day after had been planned, claiming the party had been preparing for the attacks for a long time.
“Despite talking about its democratic movement, the BNP had been secretly preparing to implement the terrorist trend of their politics. Now they have chosen to execute their plans. They have challenged our law enforcement. Their attack on the chief justice's residence is tantamount to insulting the judicial system of the country,” Quader, who is also road transport and bridges minister, told reporters at a press briefing at at the Awami League president’s Dhanmondi political office.
“The BNP is conspiring to seize state power by any means. The BNP-Jamaat alliance has once again indulged in brutal terrorist activities to disrupt the country's democratic process. The BNP does not believe in democratic ideals. Yesterday's brutal attacks and the killing of a policeman in broad daylight, the attack on the chief justice's residence, and the fire at a hospital were the implementation of Tarique Rahman's 'Takeback Bangladesh,’” Quader added.
Calling the BNP a “terrorist group,” Quader urged the party to leave terrorism and to follow the democratic process.
“Hundreds of people were burnt to death in 2013, 2014 and 2015 in arsons by the BNP, and now they are showing their old character,” Quader said.
The Awami League general secretary mentioned that at least 60 individuals from the ruling party, including six women leaders, had been injured in the last two days in BNP attacks.