Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that Sheikh Hasina's regime had killed more than 2,000 students and people during the recent Anti-Discrimination Movement, while "we have been subjected to torture and repression over the last 15 to 16 years."
"We were kept in prison for exercising BNP-Jamaat politics. Steam-rollers of repression were carried on us. If we behave like Awami League, we will also face the same consequences," he said.
Mirza Fakhrul was speaking at a public meeting organised by Haripur Upazila BNP at local Eidgah Maidan in Haripur of Thakurgaon district on early Wednesday afternoon.
The BNP leader said: "Allah does not forgive transgressors. He makes whom He wills a rich and He makes whom He wills a beggar. Sheikh Hasina thought herself as queen of the queens. She had to flee the country. Being afraid of the arrival of students and people toward Ganabhaban, she fled to India by a helicopter. Influential Hasina sought refuge going to India in a very pitiful condition after being afraid of the country's students and people.
Mirza Fakhrul said, "I myself went to prison as many as 11 times. Those who tortured us, ruled us and occupied our lands, they are now in jail. They built 'Aynaghar' to inflict torture people belonging to BNP and Jamaat. Golam Azam's son Azmi was kept in 'Aynaghar' as many as eight years. Many of our leaders and workers became the victims of enforced disappearance by them. We're yet to know the whereabout of many people."
Issuing a note of caution to India, Mirza Fakhrul said, "India shoots our people at border. We want to live in peace. If they shoot, we will proetst it vehemently. We have to ensure safety of our minorities. We will have to achieve affection of all. If we behave like Awami League, we will have to embrace the same fate."
About Obaidul Quader, he said, "He (Quader) used to utter 'khela hobe' (game will be held), palabo naa (won't flee). If we flee, we won't go outside the country. He said he would come to my residence. Even the countrymen don't know where he has gone. Many say that Obaidul Quader has gone to India. Since he was against the will of the people of this country, he had to flee to India."
District BNP general secretary Mirza Faisal Amin, Upazila BNP president Jamaluddin, general secretary Abu Taher, and leaders of district BNP and its affiliated organisations were present.
END/CORRESPONDENT/SZA
