Ruling Awami League yesterday squarely blamed BNP for Wednesday’s clash at Bakshibazar saying that BNP unleashed the violence as part of its plan to foil the trial of Khaleda Zia.
BNP men created the anarchy on the instruction of its Chairperson Khaleda Zia, it alleged.
Awami League made the remarks at a press conference after a party meeting.
The meeting was held at party President Sheikh Hasina’s political office at Dhanmondi to finalise programmes to be held on the “Victory of Democracy Day” on January 5 and Bangabandhu’s Home Coming Day on January 10.
“BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia let loose a reign of terror at Bakshibazar and Dhaka Medical College areas with her party’s armed cadres after being sure about her conviction in corruption,” said Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif.
Awami League Joint General Secretary Hanif claimed that the BNP and its student wing Chhatra Dal terrorists first launched the attacks in a bid to create a political unrest in the country.
Referring to the attack on Awami League lawmaker Chhabi Biswas by Chhatra Dal Hanif said: “If such violence continues people too will attack the cars of BNP leaders.”
Hanif asked BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and the leaders of her party to stop delivering provocative speech and refrain from terrorist activities.
Awami League never tolerates violence and terrorist activities, Hanif said and urged the government to punish those BNP men involved in the violence and attacks on Chhabi Biswas.
When visiting Chhabi Biswas at the DMCH State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal denied involvement of Chhatra League in Wednesday’s violence in Bakshibazar.
He also solely blamed BNP and its student wing Chhatra Dal for the chaos and anarchy.
Awami League Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud at another programme alleged that BNP-Jamaat terrorists unleashed a reign of terror on the court premises on Wednesday to hinder the trial proceeding.
On Wednesday, BNP leaders and activists clashed with Chhatra League activists near Bakshibazar makeshift court ahead of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s appearance in the court in two graft cases.
At least 30 people including ruling party MP Chhabi Biswas were injured in the clash.
Following the clash, two cases were filed against 150 leaders and activists of BNP and its youth and student wings on Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, about January 5 programme of BNP, the Awami League leader Mahbub-ul Alam Hanif warned at yesterday’s press conference that any move to deteriorate law and order would be resisted with an iron hand.
In another discussion meeting at Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital Awami League Dhaka city unit General Secretary Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya instructed the party activists to take to the street from the beginning of January to resist BNP-Jamaat.
On November 12 Awami League announced that it would observe January 5 (the day when the national election was held in 2014) as the “Victory Day of Democracy”.
The BNP-led 20-party alliance, however, termed January 5 a “Black Day” and also announced several programmes on the day.
On Monday the alliance sought permission from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police to hold public rallies in the capital on January 3 and 5 to mount pressure on the government to hold national election under a non-partisan government.
The BNP and its associated organisations leaders also vowed that they would take to the street on January 5 at any cost.