30 injured as BNP motorcade to Ctg rally comes under attack
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir accused the government of destroying the economy
At least 30 people suffered injuries after unidentified assailants attacked a BNP motorcade that was heading towards Chattogram to take part in a divisional rally Wednesday.
Akbar Hossain, president of Feni's Dagonbhuiyan upazila unit of BNP, said that around 10-12 vehicles of the motorcade, were vandalised in a series of attacks that commenced as it made its way through Feni, reports the UNB
"A total of 15 cars from our motorcade came under attack in Baryarhat, Mithachara, Mirsarai, Sitakunda, Nizampur and Kamaldah points of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. The attacks left 30 of our party activists critically injured. However, thousands of our activists attended the rally overcoming many obstacles on their way," said Alal Uddin Alal, Member Secretary of BNP's Feni district unit.
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According to Anwar Hossain Patwari, joint convener of Feni District BNP, party members went to Chattogram riding on around 100 cars, microbuses and buses.
BNP leaders blamed the Awami League activists for carrying out these attacks.
Chattogram District Police Senior Assistant Superintendent of Police (Mirsarai Circle) Md Labib Abdullah did not comment on the alleged vandalism and attack on BNP leaders and workers. He asked to contact the officer in-charge (OC) of Zorargonj police station in this regard.
When contacted by TBS, Zorargonj police station OC Noor Hossain Mamun said, "There was no attack on BNP leaders and workers in Bariyarahat and Zorargonj areas."
The rally was the first of a series of divisional rallies announced by BNP to protest the price hike of daily essentials, killing of its party activists during peaceful programs and to raise the demand of a caretaker government for the next general elections slated for 2023.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir slammed the government claiming the ruling regime has destroyed the economy of the country.
"After 50 years of independence, we are having to fight again to restore the rights we gained through it," he said at the rally at Chattogram's Pologround.
"We have no choice but to win this battle. Either we will emerge victorious or will die trying," he told the rally attended by BNP leaders and activists of all districts of Chattogram division.
Criticising the government, Mirza Fakhrul Islam said that Khaleda Zia has been sentenced to keep her out of politics. This government has filed false cases against 35 lakh people of the country, he claimed.
He said that the United Nations Human Rights Commission has said that disappearances occur in this country. Their report has revealed there is no human rights in Bangladesh.
"If we fail to win the movement to restore freedom, there will be no democracy in the country," said Mirza Fakhrul.
The BNP secretary general said many people's transport were stopped on the way to the rally and their cars were vandalised.
"The police raided the house of activists at night and arrested some but could not stop people from attending the rally," he said, adding the movement for the restoration of democracy has started from Chattogram and will spread to the whole of Bangladesh.
Addressing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mirza Fakhrul said, "You must resign now. Take the safe exit, otherwise you will not find a way to escape."
Mirza Fakhrul further said, "The parliament should be dissolved. Power should be given to a neutral caretaker government which will form a new election commission. The commission will conduct an impartial, free and fair election involving all political parties. Through that election people's parliament will be formed with all the parties."
The BNP leader said that 5 leaders and activists of their party were killed while protesting against the increase in commodity prices.
"We will try to solve all economic problems of the country and bring down prices of all daily commodities. We will provide employment on the basis of merit," he vowed.
Khandkar Mosharraf Hossain, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, said, "The Awami League has tortured our party activists but could not weaken our party. This movement will continue until this government departs."
He asked his party leaders and activists to make a list of Awami League leaders and activists who will try to prevent any meeting.
"The people will be their judge, not us," he said.
BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said some police units attacked the houses of activists and prevented many from attending the rally.
"Many leaders and activists have been arrested from hotels and streets. Even then, the rally did not stop, the activists crossed all obstacles and joined the rally," he added.
Among others Central BNP leader Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Md Shahjahan, Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Abdul Awal Mintoo, Aman Ullah Aman, Abdus Salam, Zainul Abedin Farooq, Golam Akbar Khandaker, VP Zainal, SM Fazlul Haque, Barrister Mahbub Uddin Khokon, Mahbubur Rahman Shamim, Shahid Uddin Chowdhury, Shama Obaid and Sultan Salahuddin Tuku spoke at the rally presided over by Chattogram Metropolitan BNP President Dr Shahadat.
