Pushing BNP into a different political camp will bring no good consequences: Abbas

FE Team | Published: January 25, 2025 00:08:59

BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas has issued a stern warning about the potential repercussions of attempts to sow division by alleging that the BNP is laying the groundwork for another 1/11-style government, reports UNB.
He was speaking at a doa and milad mahfil, organised by BNP on the ground floor of its Nayapaltan central office in the capital on Friday, marking the 10th death anniversary of party chairperson Khaleda Zia's younger son Arafat Rahman Koko.
He also said democracy will not be restored in Bangladesh if certain quarters continue their efforts to create a conflicting situation with their unguarded statements.
"I would like to clearly say that the consequences won't be good for those who are trying to push the BNP into a different political camp for their own gains," Abbas said.
He slammed Information Adviser Nahid Islam for accusing BNP of trying to establish another 1/11-like government and reminded him that BNP was the worst victim of the Fakhruddin-Moyeenuddin-led regime formed in 2007.
"Not 1/11, if you continue to make statements that can lead to division and conflict after August 5, then democracy will never be restored in the country. I would like to say, try to keep the country united without creating division and confusion," the BNP leader said.
On Thursday, BNP Secretary-General Mirza Fakhrul Islam raised questions about the neutrality of the interim government, saying that if such a government fails to maintain neutrality, the need for a truly neutral government would arise during the election.
Later that night, Adviser Nahid Islam, in a Facebook post, said the BNP secretary general's comment essentially hinted at the formation of another 1/11-like government in 2007.
Abbas, a BNP standing committee member, said many people are now making various remarks against the BNP through different media and different ways.
"Some of our leaders might have said a few things as their personal opinions... Recently, I've seen many people speaking in many ways. Some are saying that BNP is trying to bring about a 1/11 scenario. I want to say to them, no one has suffered more from the horrific consequences of 1/11 in 2007 than BNP," he said.
Abbas said every leader and worker of BNP -- from ordinary members to their topmost leader Begum Khaleda Zia --was not spared from the conspiracy of 1/11.
Without mentioning names, he said there is a party that has started counting their chickens before they are hatched as they have gone crazy in their pursuit of power.
Abbas said various political parties have suddenly started speaking in a way that reminded him of children speaking nonsense.
He lamented that some people and parties were behaving as if BNP were a cohort of the Awami League and were attempting to push BNP toward the Awami League's camp.
Abbas also said those who are trying to push BNP toward the Awami League should look at themselves in the mirror, reflect on their inner selves, and refrain from deceiving the people.
He recalled how BNP leaders and workers across the country had struggled on the streets to restore democracy, enduring premature deaths, killings, enforced disappearances, imprisonment, and various forms of persecution.