BNP asks how celebrating golden jubilee of independence can be antinational

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has asked how the party's programme to celebrate the golden jubilee of independence can be antinational.

Seeking an explanation for remark made by Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) commissioner (acting) Monirul Islam on Sunday, Fakhrul said, "The commissioner said that our programme is antinational. We want to know why he said that and what he actually meant because we do not understand how observing the golden jubilee of independence can be antinational."

On Sunday, Monirul Islam, on behalf of the DMP, issued various instructions regarding holding political programmes in Dhaka from 17-26 March.

"We are surprised by the directive because there is no confrontation of our programme with the government ones. Can't anyone else but the government arrange any programme?" the BNP secretary general said at a press conference at the BNP chairperson's office in the capital's Gulshan on Monday referring to the directive.

Fakhrul requested the commissioner to withdraw his directive and cooperate all political parties and social organisations so that they can celebrate the golden jubilee of independence.

Referring to the state programmes from 17-26 March, Fakhrul said state guests will come from abroad, which is a question of our honour and dignity and we must consider that.

"However, such a sudden directive from the DMP will undermine the purpose of celebrating the golden jubilee of independence," he added.

The press conference was presided over by BNP National Committee Convener Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and conducted by member secretary Abdus Salam. Committee members Mojibur Rahman, Nazrul Islam, Farida Yasmeen, Riaz Uddin, Arifur Rahman, Shairul Kabir Khan and others were also present on the occasion.