Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday said BNP is pursuing politics of destruction which has never been seen in Bangladesh.
“BNP activists are getting money and promotion for rampage and the party is paying each arsonist Tk10,000 for attack a public transport. Their workers are sending the video clips of the blazes to their acting chairman in London for getting post and position in the party,” the minister said.
The minister was replying to the queries of journalists at his office at the secretariat here after unwrapping the cover of a book on basic journalism.
Press Institute Bangladesh (PIB) published the book by journalist Swapan Kumar Kundu. PIB Director General Zafar Wazed and other officials were present.
The minister said arrested leaders and workers of BNP admitted to the payment of cash money for their subversive activities and sending of the video clips in London.
BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi is coordinating the activities of the arson attackers from hide, he said.
Replying to another query, Dr Hasan said the government is not putting any pressure on any BNP leader. Being annoyed with party hierarchy many BNP leaders preferred to leave the party and contest in the poll, he said adding that the number of the BNP’s poll contenders would have been more if the government had put any pressure on them.
“Real politicians of BNP do not want to be associated with the destructive politic and they want the continuation of democracy,” he said.
About the issue of garment workers’ leader Kalpana Akther, Dr Hasan said: “If anyone feels insecurity, he or she can go to the police or can lodge a GD (general diary). We do not know whether Kalpana Akther lodged any GD or filed any complaint with the police.”
“State minister for foreign affairs has already told the media that his ministry is working on this issue and if needed, the US State Department will be asked to clarify the matter to us,” the information minister said adding that all security will be provided to Kalpana if she wants as the government provides security to every people and all foreigners including US envoy.
About the silence of CPD, TIB, Amnesty and few other NGOs on BNP’s violence in the name of politics, Hasan Mahmud said the countrymen are astonished seeing their role desperately for arsonists.