No chance of unity with BNP-led alliance

Key leaders of the ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance yesterday ruled out any possibility of forging a national unity with the BNP-led combine for stamping out militancy.

Terming the BNP's call for forging a national unity a "mockery", they said it is not possible with those who "patronise" militancy.

The 14-party leaders were speaking at a discussion marking the National Mourning Day at Krishibid Institution with 14-party spokesperson Mohammed Nasim in the chair.

Addressing the programme, AL leader and Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu said BNP-Jamaat men are "killing people to make the country a failed state". "So national unity with them [BNP-Jamaat] is not possible."

He also said militancy cannot stop the country's march towards development.

Another AL veteran leader and Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said BNP's call for national unity is nothing but a mockery with the people.

"Unity is not possible by keeping children of convicted war criminals in the committee and taking side with those involved in militancy," he said, adding that national unity has already been forged with the people of the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He alleged that those who killed people through arsons to foil the 2014 national elections and carried out petrol bomb attacks to topple the government in 2015 are patronising militancy.

AL presidium member and Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said national unity is needed to move the country forward and lead the nation towards peace. "But, BNP has failed to maintain peace in the country when it was in power," she said, adding that BNP is now talking about national unity as it is not in a "comfortable position".

AL presidium member and Health Minister Mohammed Nasim alleged that BNP-Jamaat alliance is the key patron of militancy and has no right to assume power.

He also alleged that BNP chief Khaleda Zia with the help of her domestic and foreign "friends" is hatching conspiracy against the country.

Workers Party President and Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said the lesson from the assassination of Bangabandhu is that everybody would have to remain alert so that such incidents cannot repeat.

He said militants' main objective is to disturb communal harmony in the country through killings, especially foreigners and members of minority communities.

AL-led 14-party leaders Dilip Barua, Sharif Nurul Ambia, Enamul Haque, Sheikh Shahidul Islam, Wazedul Islam Khan, Mahbubul Alam Hanif and Jahangir Kabir Nanak, among others, spoke at the discussion.