BNP questions PM's national unity remarks

The BNP yesterday questioned how national unity, as stated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, could be forged excluding a major political party like it and others.

The unity that the prime minister spoke of is only the alliance of the ruling 14 parties, said BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan headquarters in the capital.

The people of the country are disappointed by such a remark by Hasina, he said and reiterated the BNP's call for immediate national unity, in true sense, against the rise of militancy.

The party came up with its formal reaction a day after the PM spoke of reaching a national consensus on how to contain terrorism and extreme violence. 

Hasina said the people of the country, except those who have links with militancy and terrorism and have records of war crimes and burning people alive, had already reached a consensus.

"The unity of common people, which is truly required for eliminating terrorists, has already been forged, and this unity will prevail," she said. 

Nazrul yesterday said that only the unity of parties of the ruling alliance could not stop terrorism, rather it would give rise to militancy and extremism.

He urged the prime minister to take quick and effective steps to form national unity.

Militant activities have increased in the country due to the government's boundless failure and inactive and confused policies, Nazrul alleged.

From the beginning, the BNP alerted the government to the rise of militancy, but it did not consider it and when any incident took place, the government put the blame on the BNP to take political revenge, he said.

He urged the government not to continue blaming others. Instead, it should unite the nation to save the country from uncertainty, the BNP standing committee member said.  

He also lambasted the home minister for his remark that the authorities had information beforehand about the attacks in Gulshan and Sholakia.

"If they had information why did they not take measures? Who would now take the responsibility of the lives killed?" the BNP leader said.