BNP on Monday said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has exposed her helplessness with what he called her "reckless, vindictive and abusive” remarks against the opposition party and its senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman.
“The people of the country have become shocked and scared after hearing the statements made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Narsingdi about the BNP acting chairman,” said BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
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Speaking at a virtual press briefing, he also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called BNP leaders 'beasts' in parliament on November 2.
“Sheikh Hasina made many other comments yesterday (Sunday) which can only be said by mentally disturbed people. Her profanity has reached almost an epidemic level recently. She made statements devoid of all etiquettes, customs, good taste and civility, and used the worst unguarded, provocative and uneven language,” the BNP leader said.
He said no head of government of any civilised country can use such a language. “It seems she is issuing threats like the street goons and theorists…It’s unfortunate for Bangladesh that such a person has occupied the prime minister's chair. A prime minister should be modest in her speech. But she (PM) is expressing her helplessness by using abusive and indecent words.”
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Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a programme in Narsingdi slammed the BNP as it came up with blockade and hartal accusing them of burning people at a time when students will sit for examinations this November ahead of the next general election.
"If anyone goes to carry out arson violence and set a bus on fire, catch them and throw them in the fire, she said.
Hasina also came down heavily on BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman and said, “He [Tarique] is in London fleeing from [the country] and instructs to carry out arson violence, staying there. Come back to Bangladesh, if you have courage. We'll see you for a while."
Criticising the PM for asking Tarique to return home, Rizvi said the country’s people are well aware of what consequences Tarique may face if he comes back during the rule of Sheikh Hasina, who has a ‘bloodthirsty’ mind.
The BNP leader said the PM’s remark has manifested clearly that she wants to kill Tarique. “For this reason, he was sentenced in false cases one after another with dictated verdicts. Tarique Rahman will return to the country soon after the victory of the people.”
He said Sheikh Hasina has become frightened by Tarique’s charismatic leadership, unimaginable popularity, political wisdom and strong leadership.
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“Hearing her remarks (on Tarique), people became baffled and dumbfounded. Such statements sitting on the seat of the Prime Minister are not only a breach of oath, but also a serious violation of the law. It’s also a direct death threat,” the BNP leader said.
He also accused the Prime Minister of creating a division in society: “Every pro-democracy person in the country is terrified by the Prime Minister's violent threat to throw them into the fire. She wants to initiate a civil war in the country.”
He claimed that more than 480 BNP leaders and activists were arrested in different parts of the country in the last 24 hours as of 4pm on Monday.
The BNP leader claimed over 11,250 opposition leaders and followers were arrested centring BNP’s Oct 28 grand rally and subsequent hartal and blockade programmes.