BNP to Govt: Shun path of violence

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UNB, Dhaka :
Blaming the ruling party for the attack on its chairperson Khaleda Zia’s Cox’s Bazar-bound convoy and torching of two buses in Feni on her way back home in the city, BNP on Wednesday urged the government to reach an understanding with opposition parties, shunning the path of violence.
Speaking at a press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir however, praised the police for making their best efforts to ensure Khaleda’s security during her tour.
“In the first attack in Feni, journalists and their vehicles were made a specific target. The second attack, during the return to capital, was a planned one. We’re observing that Awami League leaders are defending the attacks without any investigation,” he said.
The BNP leader also said no attacker has so far been arrested though their photos and identities were published in the newspapers. “So, we can say the second attack was also made with the Awami League leaders’ covert signal and pampering… we call upon the government to come to the path of negotiation shunning the path of violence.”
Claiming that Khaleda is the most popular leader of the country, Fakhrul said no one is now safe in the country when her convoy has come under attacks. “But we must admit that police tried their best to ensure the safe journey of our leader (Khaleda).”
At least 30 vehicles, including microbuses of different media outlets, were damaged and some journalists injured as some unruly youths attacked Khaleda’s motorcade at Mohammad Ali Bazar near Feni district town on its way to Cox’s Bazar on Saturday.
Besides, unidentified miscreants torched two buses on Dhaka-Chittagong highway while the convoy of the BNP chairperson was passing through Feni’s Mahipal on Tuesday concluding her four-day tour of Cox’s Bazar to visit Rohingyas.
In protest against the incidents, Fakhrul announced a two-day demonstration programme. As per the programmes, the party leaders and activists will either stage demonstrations or hold protest rallies in all districts on Thursday. All the thana units of BNP in the capital city will also observe the similar programmes on Saturday.
Narrating their party’s relief activities for Rohingyas, Fakhrul said the government is not standing by the displaced Myanmar nationals with adequate support and relief materials.
BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi were, among others, present.
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