The BNP-led opposition alliance claimed on Monday that hundreds of Hefazat-e-Islam leaders and activists were killed and their bodies hidden in the overnight operation by law enforcement agencies to remove them from Motijheel.
Terming the joint action by police, RAB and BGB as a “planned attack”, the alliance also held the government responsible for the inciting violence by Hefazat supporters during their Dhaka-siege programme on Sunday.
“This genocide is the repetition of the March 25 (1971) Pakistani army attack on the Bangladeshi people, and surpasses the dreadful crimes committed against humanity at the time,” BNP standing committee member MK Anwar said, briefing journalists after a meeting of the 18-party alliance.
“Police, RAB, BGB, Chhatra League and Jubo League opened fire on the Hefazat leaders and activists and launched the genocide in a planned way,” Anwar said at the briefing, held at BNP’s Naya Paltan headquarters.
On Sunday, thousands of Hefazat activists ran riot through downtown Dhaka, burning buildings and shops, looting and fighting pitch battles with police on their way to a grand rally at the Shapla Chattar in Motijheel. Late at night, law enforcers used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the supporters from the area after they refused to leave.
The senior BNP leader said they did not know exactly how many people were killed or injured in the operation.
“This killing is rare in the country’s political history. Only time will say how many people were killed and how many were injured,” Anwar said.
“The number of killed might be a thousand. We are yet to get the full picture. The media was barred when joint forces started their operation,” BNP vice chairman, Sadeque Hossain Khoka, added.
“Three million people sacrificed their lives for the Liberation War. If more blood is needed, BNP will do so. To make democracy functional, six million people will sacrifice their lives,” he said.
Khoka, a former Dhaka mayor, also blamed the Shahbag street protests for the prevailing chaotic situation in the country, and said that by removing the Shahbag podium, the government has proven BNP’s claims.
“A civil war-like situation was created in the country just because of Gonojagoron Moncho. The government has to shoulder the blame for the unrest,” Khoka said.
Moreover, Anwar alleged that the government imposed a ban on rallies and meetings yesterday, to foil a gathering by the opposition alliance.
The alliance postponed its planned rally yesterday after the Dhaka Metropolitan Police slapped a ban on all sorts of processions in the capital until midnight.
The former minister held Swechhashebak leader Debashish responsible for setting fire to the bookshops at Baitul Mukarram.
“The government blamed the Hefazat leaders for this, but news and pictures of those who lit the fires were published in the media,” he said.
Anwar also criticised the government’s “Bakshali” attitude in shutting down the of Diganta and Islamic TV’s telecast. Anwar further alleged that Qawmi madrassas have become the target of government attacks.
“Tewnty-five madrassa students were killed in Narayanganj and 10 BNP men were killed in Bagerhat,” he said. Senior BNP leaders, including RA Gani, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Selima Rahman and Shamsuzzaman Dudu were present at the briefing.
