DHAKA, Nov 12, 2019 (BSS) – Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said more senior leaders of BNP will quit their party as it has indulged in ‘negative and ill’ politics.
“The politics of BNP is moving round the issues of caretaker government, election commission and Khaleda Zia’s and Tarique Rahman’s cases in the last 11 years,” he told reporters at a press briefing at his secretariat office here.
The minister said BNP didn’t do politics for the welfare of the common people. “BNP did politics only in their own interest, not for mass people . . . they choose the path of vandalism and petrol bomb attacks on the people. For this, they have now become an isolated party,” he added.
Criticising a comment of BNP leader Gayeshar Chandra Ray, he said the list of BNP’s senior leaders quitting the party will be longer. BNP will see the actual scenario in near future. “Many people and I, too, want to ask Gayeshar Chandra Ray when he will leave BNP,” he added.
Hasan said BNP has no internal democracy in the party. “The members of standing committee are not able to take any decision as all the decisions of the party come from abroad. BNP’s convicted acting chairman Tarique Rahman is giving all decisions. For this, the party has become isolated from the people,” he added.
Replying to a query, the minister said many leaders of BNP have communicated with the Awami League leaders at different levels. But it is not possible to take anyone in the party (AL), he added.
About the case filing by Gambia against Myanmar, the minister said Gambia on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has sued Myanmar for committing genocide against its minority Rohingya population.
“I hope that the case will create pressure on Myanmar to bring back their nationals, the Rohingyas,” Hasan said, adding Gambia earlier filed a case in the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Myanmar of committing genocide against its minority Rohingyas seeking the global court’s urgent interventions.
Bangladesh and Gambia are both OIC member states while all the three countries including Myanmar are signatories to the 1948 Genocide Convention, he mentioned.
The minister hoped the case will mount further pressure on Myanmar to start repatriating and re-integrating their people.
Replying to another question, Dr Hasan, also AL publicity and publication secretary, said the speech of Jatiya Party secretary general Mashiur Rahman Ranga over Shaheed Nur Hossain is regrettable and unaccepted.
“Nur Hossain, who imprinted his bare chest and back with the slogans “Free democracy” and “Down with autocracy”, is the symbol of democracy. He was a leader of Jubo League and embraced martyrdom on November 10 in 1987 in police firing during an anti-autocracy demonstration in the city,” the minister said.
Hasan said, “I thank Ranga as he realizes his mistake and sought unconditional apology for his comment.”