Gazipur Correspondent: The failure of the government to take effective action against arson attacks and bomb explosions allegedly carried out by Awami League activists, coupled with what he described as the government`s silence, represents the final nail in the coffin of old-style politics, AB Party Joint General Secretary Barrister Abbas Islam Khan Noman has said.
He also said the return of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh was not a matter of political compromise but one of justice and accountability.
Noman made the remarks at a protest rally following a torch procession organised by the AB Party in Gazipur on Thursday evening. The procession began at Malek Bari and ended at Bypass intersection, protesting attempts to destabilise the country through arson attacks on buses and cocktail explosions.
Addressing the rally as the chief guest, Noman said Sheikh Hasina, having been convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal, must return to Bangladesh as a convicted offender and face the court`s verdict.
He alleged that Awami League leaders staying in Dubai, India and London were instigating efforts to create instability in Bangladesh. He called for action against those allegedly directing local activists from abroad to carry out arson attacks, cocktail explosions and other acts of sabotage. "People will no longer accept the politics of arson, vandalism and violence in post-July uprising Bangladesh," he said, adding that political opposition and the right to protest must be protected, but these rights cannot be used as a pretext for destroying lives and property.
Calling on the government to ensure public safety, Noman urged the authorities to prevent sabotage, identify those responsible for criminal activities and bring them to justice swiftly. At the same time, he stressed that innocent people must not be subjected to harassment in the name of security operations.
Criticising the BNP-led elected government, he said it should have taken stronger measures to protect citizens against what he described as activities by former ruling party activists.
Instead, he alleged, the government appeared to be avoiding responsibility for ensuring public security.
Referring to recent cocktail explosions at Dhaka University and several other places across the country, Noman criticised Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed for allegedly downplaying the incidents. Such an attitude, he observed, reflected the continuation of old-style politics rather than a decisive break from the past.
The protest rally was presided over by Gazipur district and metropolitan AB Party convener Engineer Alamgir Hossain and conducted by Masud Jamaddar Rana, member secretary of the district and metropolitan committees.
Among others, AB Party Relief and Rehabilitation Secretary Sultana Raziya, Assistant Publicity Secretary Ripon Mahmud, Cultural Affairs Assistant Secretary Abdur Rob Jamil, AB Volunteer Party Joint Convener Abdul Mannan, Gazipur district and metropolitan Joint Member Secretary Moinul Islam, Kaliakair Thana Convener Dr Rafiqul Islam and central committee member Dr Ashraful Alam addressed the gathering.
Other speakers and participants included Mohammad Shamim Mondol, Siddiqur Rahman, Rajib Hasan Khan Setu, Mohammad Harun Howlader, Md Rowshan Ali, Md Monir Hossain, Halima Akter Rima, Mariam Begum and youth wing activists Shanto and Rabbi, among others.