Emotion takes over Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday broke down while describing the "government's oppression of his party men". 

"My car was stuck in a traffic jam. A young hawker came to me and said he was involved in Laxmipur BNP. But he had to leave his locality as a lot of cases were filed against him. He has now become a hawker," Fakhrul said.   

The BNP leader was addressing a discussion at Dhaka Reporters Unity. Amar Desh Paribar in association with Engineers Association of Bangladesh, a pro-BNP platform, organised the programme demanding immediate release of Amar Desh acting editor Mahmudur Rahman and reopening of 35 web portals.

"My boys are now pulling rickshaws in the capital," said the BNP secretary general, his voice choking with emotion. Silence fell over the audience as Fakhrul tried to keep his emotion checked.

He alleged that his party men became victims of forced disappearances. Even the bodies of many of them have not been found.

Referring to a recent programme, he said the children of the abducted BNP leaders told that they wanted to celebrate Eid with their father. "Did the people fight for such a country?" he questioned.     

About the government's move to enact the Digital Security Act, he said it is a move to prevent people from speaking freely.  

"New laws are being enacted frequently. People would have to face life term imprisonment or pay one crore taka in fine even if they express something through gestures," said Fakhrul.

The cabinet on Monday approved a draft law with a provision of maximum punishment of life imprisonment for spreading negative propaganda through digital devices against the Liberation War and the Father of the Nation.

Fakhrul called upon journalists to decide on what role they should play under the circumstances.

About the proposed Rampal Power Plant, he said the government is setting up the coal-fired plant near the Sundarbans as "it has its own interest in the project".

To pursue its interest, the government is carrying out attacks on people who are staging protests against the power plant, he added.

On forging a national unity against militancy, the BNP leader said other political parties attached many conditions to the issue. He urged all parties to forget everything and get united for at least once to raise voice against militancy.