BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Jatiya Oikya Front are spreading propaganda against the army based on the "prescription" provided by Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, Awami League Joint General Secretary Abdur Rahman has claimed.
He made the accusations at a press conference held at the party president's Dhanmondi political office in Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon.
"The lies and deception spread by BNP, Jamaat, and Oikya Front have become profound," he said. "But acting on ISI's prescription, they have now targeted their twisted propaganda towards our symbol of pride and esteem—our army."
Commenting on Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder and Oikya Front leader Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury's remarks against incumbent army Chief of Staff Abdul Aziz on a TV talk show on October 9, Abdur Rahman said: "Everyone saw how Zafrullah made ill-motivated and false statements against the Bangladesh Army, and its chief, to tarnish the army's image.
"Now these parties are opening fake Facebook IDs and websites in the army's name and trying to confuse the public," he said.
Abdur Rahman also said conspiracies against the army are nothing new for BNP-Jamaat. "After ascending to power with a false coup, BNP Founder Ziaur Rahman killed thousands of innocent army officials and freedom fighters through the so-called tribunal."
BNP and Jamaat have always worked to implicate the army in controversies, he said at the press conference.
He added: "Yesterday [Monday], Jatiya Oikya Front chief Dr Kamal Hossain mentioned Yahya Khan's—the man responsible for 1971's genocide—name at a press conference. If Kamal Hossain stands in front of a mirror, he will only see Yahya's reflection."
The joint general secretary accused Dr Kamal Hossain of harbouring anti-liberation war sentiments. "He has started adopting a Pakistani mentality."
Accusing BNP, Jamaat, and Oikya Front leaders of causing violence and disruption in different parts of the country before the December 30 polls, Abdur said: "BNP, Jamaat, and Oikya Front are using their own people to vandalize the election offices of Awami League and their allied parties, to sabotage their campaign activities."
That these acts are part of BNP-Jamaat's sabotage plans is evidenced through the leaked phone conversations of their leaders, he said. "We have information that BNP and Jamaat are planning to carry out a huge sabotage plan soon, acting on their fear of losing the election."
He urged the public to take a stand against BNP and Jamaat by voting against them.
Dismissing BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi's claims that Awami League has 23 war criminals among their party, Abdur said: "They are making false claims. Awami League does not harbour such war criminals like [Abdul] Alim, [Ali Ahsan Mohammad] Mojaheed, or [Motiur Rahman] Nizami.
"The war criminals were tried in the International Crimes Tribunal, and later received sentences," he said. "Even if Awami League does have war criminals, BNP should have sought the assistance of the tribunal instead of making shameless and hilarious accusations."
The press conference was also attended by Awami League Organizing Secretary Bahauddin Nasim, Ahmed Hossain, and others.
