Govt killing own people to hold onto power

BNP standing committee member Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah yesterday said the government was killing its own people one after another in crossfire because its "doomsday bell" started ringing, with party men creating anarchy and fighting with one another.

"We don't support the killing of anyone in crossfire. The government got worried about losing power due to the ruling party men's involvement in anarchy and infighting. It is not hesitating to kill its own people to stay in power," he said.

Addressing the 35th founding anniversary discussion of pro-BNP Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebok Dal at the capital's Diploma Engineers Institute, he hoped that the BNP would take over after unseating the ruling Awami League within one year.

"Don't get disappointed; you just do your duty staying on the path of justice. We hope to observe the next founding anniversary in a free Bangladesh with a nationalist government in power," Hannan Shah said, without elaborating.

Party insiders said Swhechchhasebok Dal president, general secretary and organising secretary did not attend the meeting due to the fear of arrest in the several cases they were facing over "destructive activities" during the BNP-led 20-party alliance's movement from January to March demanding a fresh election under a non-party administration.

Without any official announcement, the opposition alliance called off their movement on April 5, the day BNP chief Khaleda Zia surrendered before a special court and later returned to her residence after staying at her Gulshan office for 92 days since January 5.

Hannan Shah said Khaleda would call for a fresh movement at the right time.

Pointing to the opposition's "latest movement", he said some BNP men got frustrated because of the government's propaganda against the party.