BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday urged their party leaders and activists to intensify their current movement as the government is not willing to allow seriously ill Khaleda Zia to go abroad for treatment.
"Begum Khaleda Zia is seriously ill and doctors have said it’s essential for her to go abroad immediately for the treatment she now needs…the government isn’t willing to allow her to do that (go abroad),” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, he also said it is not enough to only make a demand for sending Khaleda abroad for treatment. “We must intensify the movement we’ve started, and turn it into a fierce one by changing its pace to force the government to ensure her treatment abroad.”
Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), marking its 41st founding anniversary.
He said though Khaleda is fighting for life at the hospital, the government is not paying heed to her doctors’ advice to send her abroad as it fears if she remains alive she will awaken people to fight against injustice and unfairness. “Rather, they (govt) are making discourteous comments.”
Also read: Khaleda being deprived of human rights: BNP
Fakhrul asked BNP leaders and activists to strengthen their organisational capacity to achieve success in their movement. “If the organisation is not strong, you won’t succeed in any movement.”
Stating that farmers are facing various problems, including deprivation of fair prices of their produce, he asked the leaders and activists of Krishak Dal to focus on farmers’ problems and organise them across the country to realise their demands and establish their rights.
Fakhrul said Awami League is no longer a political party as it has become a “monster”. “In practice, they don’t run the country. Bureaucrats are now running the country going beyond democratic norms.”
About the US sanctions on Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and its seven current and former top officials, he said the Awami League government has created such a situation by using state institutions to cement its power,
“The USA imposed the sanctions on Rab while the high-ranking officials of the organisation are not allowed to go there. If they have any property there, it will be confiscated. It’s a matter of shame,” the BNP leader said.
Fakhrul alleged over 600 people were made disappeared, 1,000 people were killed unlawfully and over 1, 000 people were maimed during the rule of the current government.
Also read: BNP reacts to PM’s remark on Khaleda’s treatment; says it’s “unexpected”
He said the law enforcers have become desperate as the government used them to protect its power. "In this way, the government has destroyed all the institutions of the country. We are saddened that our former army chief has been banned in America. Neither he nor his family members will be able to enter America.”
Fakhrul called upon people of all walks of life to get united to protect the country from the grasp of Awami League and restore democracy.