Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Nazrul Islam Khan on Monday said genuine leaders and activists of BNP and its various affiliated organisations are not involved in extortion, violence, land grabbing or any kind of wrongdoing.

“We, who worked with Shaheed Zia, worked with Begum Khaleda Zia and are now working with Tarique Rahman, can say with our hands on our hearts that we have never been involved in any wrongdoing, injustice, extortion or land grabbing,” he said.

“Our working-class people are not involved either. The genuine leaders and activists of BNP’s various affiliated organisations are not involved in such activities,” he added.

Nazrul was speaking at a protest rally organised by  Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal at Nayapaltan in the capital in the afternoon.

He said a genuine activist of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman, Begum Khaleda Zia or Tarique Rahman cannot be a criminal, extortionist, land grabber or terrorist.

“If anyone is involved in such activities, he is not BNP. He is not an activist of Shaheed Zia, not a worker of Khaleda Zia and not a worker of Tarique Rahman,” he said.

“If anyone gets an opportunity to criticise BNP because of the activities of a few individuals, we will demand that the government take strict action against those involved in such activities,” Nazrul said.

He said those conspiring against the country and the government are already active while those rejected by the people would naturally try to increase people’s suffering.

“Those whom the people rejected in the election may also be dissatisfied. But the ordinary people of this country have given our young leader Tarique Rahman an opportunity to work for the country,” he said.

“Tarique Rahman is working tirelessly. They want to give Prime Minister Tarique Rahman an opportunity. He is trying. Let us see whether, by the grace of Allah, he succeeds,” Nazrul said.

He said the people would not like anyone to create obstacles to Tarique Rahman’s efforts to succeed.

“It has only been six to seven months. We have elected a government for five years. Only one-tenth of its term has passed. Is it already time to judge whether this government has succeeded or failed? The time has not yet come to make such a judgment,” he said.

Central leaders of Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, leaders of its Dhaka city north and south units, leaders of various thanas and wards under the two city units, and leaders of different trade unions were present at the rally.