Mirza Abbas, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, on Saturday said that he still faces 108 cases and had been arrested at least 12 times during the Awami League dictatorship.
He explained that such cases have been filed against all Islamic parties, including Hefazat-e-Islam and Jamaat, and that the downfall of the Awami League has brought an end to this life of fear.
He made these comments while attending a rally organized by the Khilafat Majlis General Council at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.
He went on to say that when the student movement had largely subsided, resistance was rekindled through madrasa students in Jatrabari.
Along with them, students from private universities and members of the general public also took to the streets.
"I heard this slogan after a long time. The slogans of 'Narayan Takbir' and 'Zindabad' had almost disappeared from Bangladesh," he said.
"No one here can claim to have slept peacefully at home for the last 16-17 years," he added.
Addressing India, Mirza Abbas said: "We will never compromise on our country’s independence and sovereignty."
He added: "Sheikh Hasina fled our country and took refuge in a neighboring country. India sheltered someone whom no other country in the world would offer refuge to. Now she sits there and runs amok."
He also criticized the Indian media, saying: "The Indian media is criticizing Bangladesh, but why didn’t they protest the killings at Shapla Chattar? Why didn’t they raise their voices against the killings? India had treated this country as its province."
Leaders from various political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and Islami Andolan, attended the event.
The session was inaugurated by the party’s Adviser, Principal Maulana Mohammad Ishaq, and was presided over by Khilafat Majlis's Ameer, Maulana Abdul Basit Azad.
