Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the government was taking advantage by creating a ‘crisis’ in the Qawmi-madrasa-based Islamist organisation in the wake of dissolution of the central committee of Hefazat-e-Islam.
‘As a political party, we think the government has created a crisis in Hefazat and it’s now taking advantage of it,’ he said.
The BNP secretary general came up with the remark while speaking at a virtual press conference.
Stating that their party has no relation with Hefazat, Fakhrul said BNP believes in going to power in a peaceful manner through a credible election.
He alleged that the government is trying to involve BNP leaders in various incidents of Hefazat to make political gains.
The BNP leader also accused the government of launching a crackdown in the name of lockdown to suppress its opponents. ‘Many cases were filed against our leaders and workers, though BNP has no involvement in the incidents in any way.’
He said their party registered its protest against the violence at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, Brahmanbaria and Chattogram and the killing of people on Independence Day. ‘It’s our fundamental right. But ministers Obaidul Quader and Hasan Mahmud are spreading propaganda involving our party with Hefazat.’
Fakhrul said their party has no link with the violent incidents that happened in Dhaka, Brahmanbaria and Chattogram protesting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Bangladesh, ‘The government’s efforts to implicate us and our top leaders in such incidents are not acceptable in any way.’
He said the government has long been trying to eliminate BNP by carrying out repressive acts and a ‘false’ campaign against the party as they know this party is the only opponent which can return to power by organising people through an election.
On Sunday night, Hefazat-e-Islam chief Junayed Babunagari announced the dissolution of the 249-member central committee of the organisation
Later, a five-member convening committee of Hefazat was announced at midnight.
