Abul Moyeen Khan Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) standing-committee member Dr Abul Moyeen Khan has cautioned the countrymen against the resurrection of BAKSAL at the time of forging unity among political parties.
"We need unity irrespective of our castes, creeds and religions. If we somehow form BAKSAL-type anything at the time of forging national unity, it won't work. We should be cautious."
"It's easy to say democracy verbally but difficult to give it a real shape," added Dr Khan, referring to the interim government's latest meeting with political parties to form national unity.
The BNP veteran made the observations at an event in commemoration of Atiqur Rahman Salu, a former member of the International Farakka Committee, at the National Press Club on Thursday.
The common people of the country, including labourers, farmers, garment workers and rickshaw-pullers, have an aspiration to cast their votes after every five years, according to him.
"Have our new generation been able to cast their votes in the past 15 to 20 years? We want people's voting right back and that is the real aspiration..."
About reforms, Dr Khan said, "No reforms will work unless we (politicians and other concerned) reform ourselves first."
Jatiya Party (Jafar) chairman Mostofa Jamal Haider, Biplobi Workers Party general secretary Saiful Haque, pro-BNP Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) secretary general Qader Gani Chowdhury and National Press Club secretary Ayub Bhuiyan, among others, were present.
Meanwhile, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi urged the public to boycott Indian products in protest against an attack on the Bangladesh mission in Agartala and the desecration of the Bangladeshi flag.
He made the mass call while throwing away his wife's Indian-branded sari at a programme in front of the National Press Club the same day.
Later, BNP leaders and activists at the event burned that sari.
"We'd boycott the products of those who dishonoured our beloved country's flag. Our mothers, sisters and brothers won't purchase Indian products, including sari, toothpaste, soap and others," uttered Mr Rizvi.
Bangladeshi varieties of green chilli and onion were better than Indian ones, he said, calling upon all to produce more local varieties of such kitchen items on their yards or on rooftops to attain self-sufficiency.
The BNP leaders and activists then chanted "Boycott Indian goods".
"You (Indians) don't like us (Bangladeshis). Why should we purchase your (Indian) products then?" questioned Mr Rizvi.
"The people of Bangladesh will never bow down to India. We'd rather take meal once a day but we won't bow down our heads," he made this avowal.
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