BNP Chairman’s Adviser Advocate Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal on Saturday said taking action against wrongdoers within the party is not a new practice but a long-standing culture.
He said action was taken against BNP leaders, activists and ministers in the past as well when allegations were raised against them, he said at a human chain organised by Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the arrest of those involved in the alleged assault on Bangladesh NAP Chairman Shaon Sadiq.
He said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, also BNP chairman, has repeatedly warned party leaders and activists at various levels.
Referring to recent action against a BNP lawmaker, Alal said action has also been taken against a woman MP who had made many sacrifices as a BNP leader.
Recalling BNP’s past, Alal said Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had spoken about taking action against corrupt elements and “weeds” within the party at a meeting of the central committee of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal in Dhaka ahead of his death on May 30, 1981, in Chattogram.
Referring to incidents during the BNP government’s 2001-2006 tenure, Alal said the president of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, BNP’s largest political affiliate, and an elected MP at the time was arrested over an allegation and remained in jail for a long period.
He said the son of a then Posts and Telecommunications minister was the president of Kushtia Jubo Dal.
After allegations emerged against him over establishing dominance and involvement in controversial activities, he was expelled from Jubo Dal and his father was removed from the Cabinet.
Alal also said another minister from Chattogram was removed from the Cabinet over a fertiliser scam.
He said the practice of taking action against wrongdoers in BNP was not new and had a long history.
“At a time when the party is working for the development of the country in various fields, some people are resorting to false propaganda and disinformation in an attempt to establish lies as truth,” he said.
Regarding the alleged attack on NAP Chairman Shaon Sadiq, Alal said the incident might appear small to the media, but it was a serious matter to them.
“Those who stood at the forefront of BNP’s 17-year movement faced attacks and imprisonment,” he said.
Addressing the Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote, Alal called for intensified efforts to arrest the actual perpetrators of the attack on Sadiq.
Leaders of the Jatiyatabadi Samomona Jote were present at the programme.