People know who fled the country after 1/11 changeover: Fakhrul

Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s remark that Awami League will never abandon people, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said that people know who fled the country after the 1/11 political changeover.

“The prime minister said in Rajshahi yesterday (January 29, 2023) that Awami League never flees. Everyone knows who fled the country after being arrested during the 1/11 (government),” he said.

The BNP leader also said their party chief Khaleda Zia did not leave the country at that time. “She (Khaleda) clearly said I have no place abroad. This is my country. I was born here… Even if I die, I will die here… So, there’s no point in making such a comment (by the PM). The country’s people know who fled where, when and how.”

He came up with the remarks while launching the anti-government march programme of their party’s Dhaka South City unit – towards Jurain from Jatrabari, reports UNB.

Fakhrul warned that the ruling party will not get any escape route as the backs of the country’s people are now pushed against the walls by facing widespread repressive acts for 14-15 years.

Pointing to Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, Fakhrul recited a few lines of a poem by Nirmalendu Goon, “Which way you will flee, there is no way to escape. Mountains in the North, Bay of Bengal in the South. In which direction will you run?”

Under the circumstances, he urged the government to hand over power to a caretaker government after quitting and dissolving parliament so that people can cast their votes under a new Election Commission. “So, we say again there’s still time to step down acting on our 10-point demand.”

Fakhrul slammed the ruling party for what he said its “ill-efforts” to ensure the victory of Abdus Sattar – a former MP and sacked BNP leader – in the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency by-polls. So, how safe is the vote in your hands?

Trashing Obaidul Quader’s comment that BNP’s road march is its funeral procession, Fakhrul said their march is a “victory procession of democracy and civilisation.” “This is our victory march to get back people’s rights and to have freed our leader, Khaleda Zia.”

The BNP leader also said they will achieve the final victory by “ousting” the current government through peaceful programmes with the involvement of the mass people.

Earlier on Thursday, BNP announced the four-day march programme in the capital for January 28, 30, 31 and February 1.

Dhaka North City unit of BNP will also march from Gabtoli to Mirpur-10 intersection on January 31. Dhaka South City unit of BNP will march from Mugda to Malibagh on February 1.