Annoyed at the Gazipur City Corporation mayor’s controversial comments on Bangabandhu and Liberation War martyrs, top Awami League leaders have recommended taking action against Mohammad Zahangir Alam.

Stating that a plot to turn Bangladesh into a “communal state” is present, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday alleged that an “hidden” force is now controlling everything.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader today asked opposition BNP leaders to make it clear whether the party is claiming responsibility for the communal attacks and violence against the country’s Hindu community in 2001 after it came to power.

BNP has alleged that after creating communal crisis in the country, the ruling party yesterday brought out a rally for harmony.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader this morning urged party activists to build resistance against communal forces.

BNP has formed two committees for, what it said, standing beside the victims of recent communal attacks and investigating the incidents to find out the facts.

Mayhem at Rangpur

The ruling Awami League yesterday announced that it will hold ‘harmony rallies’ and bring out peace processions across the country today against the recent communal violence.

A leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League of Shariatpur Sadar upazila unit was suspended yesterday for posting a provocative Facebook post over the incident or reportedly “demeaning the Holy Quran” in Cumilla.

The continuous attacks on religious minorities in the country are taking place in a “very well planned” manner, ruling alliance partner Workers Party of Bangladesh (WPB) said yesterday.

Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury yesterday said Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal should resign from his post for the incident at Habiganj of Chandpur on October 13 that cost lives of four persons.

BNP yesterday alleged that the government is trying to implicate them in the incident of “demeaning the Holy Quran” in Cumilla.

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader yesterday said BNP is the “number one” patron of communal forces.

BNP today alleged that the government was trying to implicate BNP in the Cumilla incident of reportedly “demeaning the Holy Quran”.

Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said evil, communal forces carried out attacks on Hindu temples in a planned manner.

The attack and vandalism on Hindu idols and temples during Durga Puja festivities were part of a conspiracy against the country, speakers said at a protest rally yesterday.

Rights groups, academics and political parties yesterday condemned the attacks on puja mandaps, temples and houses and business establishments of Hindu community in different parts of the country.

BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas yesterday alleged that the government is not allowing their party chairperson Khaleda Zia to go aboard for advanced treatment as part of a plot to kill her slowly.

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader yesterday said the current constitution of the country is contradictory to democratic practice as it gives all power to a  “single person”.

The Dhaka city chapter of Islami Andolan Bangladesh yesterday staged a rally in front of the capital’s Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, protesting, what they said, the incident of “demeaning the Holy Quran” in Cumilla and hike in prices of daily essentials.