India not honouring democracy by sheltering Hasina

Says Fakhrul

FE Team | Published: August 21, 2024 00:12:44

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said India has not been honouring 'democratic ideals' by providing shelter to Sheikh Hasina, reports bdnews24.com.
''The fascist oppressor and killer Sheikh Hasina fled the country, leaving its people following a mass uprising of students and the people. It is our misfortune that our neighbouring country India offered her refuge. From there, she has been hatching a conspiracy to foil the revolution of the students and common people in Bangladesh," Fakhrul told the media on Tuesday after paying tribute to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman at his grave on Tuesday.
"I don't think India has upheld its commitment to democracy by offering refuge to her in this manner. We urge India to hand her over to the government of Bangladesh as per the law and let her face the trial that the people of Bangladesh decide for her."
"People in Bangladesh do not trivialise the crimes committed by Sheikh Hasina. They believe that the fascist reign of Hasina weakened the independence of Bangladesh for the last 15 years and injured the nation," he said.
During her rule Hasina ensnared the nation in Tk 18 trillion in loans and laundered $100 billion, Fakhrul said. She offered the nation only 'bad governance' and 'destroyed all institutions', he said.
The BNP believes that the interim government emerged through a revolution following a mass uprising and their key job is to hold a free and fair election and hand over the power to people's representatives, says Mirza Fakhrul.
''However, I believe that some time is needed to clean up the rubbish created by the Awami League government….We need some time to hold a free and fair election and the interim government can work to reach that goal. They can do the necessary reforms. People in Bangladesh will give them that time."
The BNP secretary general applauded the initiatives taken by the interim government in the last eleven days.
He went to the grave of martyred president Ziaur Rahman around 12:30pm on Tuesday accompanied by Maj Hafizuddin Ahmed (retd) and Prof AZM Zahid Hossain, two newly appointed standing committee members. They placed a wreath and offered special prayers at the grave.
''I have been a BNP member for the last 32 years. I earnestly thank and pay my gratitude to our top leader Begum Khaleda Zia and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman for placing me in the policymaking forum of the BNP. I hope to follow the ideology of BNP's martyred president Ziaur Rahman and gradually drive Bangladesh to the pinnacle of development," said Hafizuddin Ahmed.
He said the BNP began to stage a movement 16 years ago to restore democracy. At the final stage, the Anti-discrimination Student Movement joined that movement and propelled it to its goal.
Hafizuddin prayed for the salvation of the departed souls of those who died in the violence around the Anti-discriminatory Student Movement.