BNP leaders are detained in their own prison: Hasan

FE Team | Published: November 30, 2023 23:20:33

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said the top leaders of BNP have been detained in their own prison, making it impossible for them to participate in any elections, report agencies.
"The BNP leadership, by confining their party leaders to their so-called prison, has made them incapable of contesting any elections--be it parliamentary, district, or union parishad elections," Hasan Mahmud, who is also a joint general secretary of the ruling party, told reporters at the his Secretariat office in the city on Thursday.
"Today, many (of the BNP leaders) have come out and submitted nomination papers. Former BNP parliamentarians and central committee members have also submitted nomination papers. Many BNP leaders admit that these decisions are gradually leading the party towards destruction," he added.
He said there is no public support for the BNP's anti-government protests such as blockade and general strike.
"There is no unanimous agreement on this decision (for blockade and strike) among the core leaders of the BNP. The BNP's entire agenda has been blown away... I hope BNP will step away from this path and return to a healthy political discourse," the AL leader said.
The minister said BNP is now looking at the sky and the West, if anything happens. In fact, a political party cannot survive doing such politics, he said.
He said the countrymen have rejected their blockade and hartal programmes and the people are doing their daily jobs as usual. BNP's all programmes have become fade as festive and joyous moods are prevailing centering the upcoming election, he said.
Regarding Transparency International Bangladesh's observation that there is no visible participation for an inclusive election, Hasan said, "The TIB will see the participation on the election day."
He said the TIB makes statements when anyone gets injured, but they didn't make any statement when the terrorists are carrying out arson attacks and killing people. In fact, the TIB has lost the acceptance, he said.
Responding to a question about whether labour leader Kalpona Akter, executive director of the Bangladesh Centre for Workers Solidarity, is working as anyone's agent, the minister said, "I don't know if she is an agent, you find it out. However, within a year, she traveled abroad multiple times, spending around Tk 14-15 lakh. Questions arise about where a labour leader gets such money from and why so many foreign trips are necessary."