The BNP has alleged that the Awami League government did not believe in democracy and that is why an environment existed across the country for militancy to flourish.
“After al-Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahiri’s video message, it is clear that militancy is flourishing during the Awami League government. They [the Awami League] have created the atmosphere because Awami League does not believe in democracy,” Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the BNP, said yesterday.
“Militancy flourishes when democracy does not prevail in the country. We think that militancy has flourished now in the country due to the Awami League,” he said after visiting ailing BNP Standing Committee member RA Gani at Birdem Hospital in the capital.
A video spotted last Wednesday featuring a speech by 63-year-old al-Qaeda commander, Ayman al Zawahiri, is the second call to holy war issued by the militant group to Bangladeshis. An audio message from the group was released in January this year.
The video announced the creation of “Qaedat al Jihad in the Indian subcontinent” which it said would carry out jihad in defence of those Zawahiri described as: “Vulnerable in the Indian subcontinent, in Burma, Bangladesh, Assam, Gujarat, Ahmedabad, and Kashmir...”
When asked about BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman’s recent statement that political parties should not be based on religion, the party spokesperson said: “Tarique Rahman’s speech was distorted and his speech was aired inaccurately. The BNP believes in democracy and Tarique Rahman also believes in democracy. In a democracy, there will be differences of opinions and everyone has the right to do politics.”
Tarique, at a recent programme in London, said Ziaur Rahman always said religion could not be the ideology of politics. Religion can have its contribution over politics but it cannot be the basis of politics.
“We have learned from experience that politics of that kind does not work, it did not during Pakistan era,” Tarique quoted BNP founder Zia as having said to a workshop in September, 1980.
Regarding Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s two-day visit to Dhaka, Fakhrul said: “The people of Bangladesh see the visit as a positive step for the country. From different newspapers we have seen that he has come with different investment proposals. We think these proposals will play a positive role in the socio-economic development of the country.”
In the meantime, BNP Standing Committee member MK Anwar said the government would face a tough situation if it did not hold elections soon.
“From newspaper reports, it seems that a chaotic situation prevails across the country. It seems that there is no government in the country, rather a criminal party in office,” Anwar told a programme at the National Press Club.
The former minister asked the government to take note of the national mood or they would have to face a tough situation in the future.
“The people of the country are waiting for Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman’s call. To overcome the situation, all have to be united to establish the people’s right to vote,” Anwar said.
