Dhaka: BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the government is conspiring to remove their party from the mainstream politics aiming to re-establish a one-party rule.

‘Now it’s a critical time for us as a conspiracy is on to annihilate BNP. Awami League leaders are openly threatening to stamp out BNP…such an announcement by the ruling party leaders has exposed their plot to drive out BNP from the mainstream politics,’ he said.

Speaking at a prayer session, the BNP leader further said, ‘It’s also demonstrated Awami League’s motive to restore a one-party governing system by destroying multiparty democracy. So, this is not only a matter of deep concern for BNP leaders and activists, but also for all the democratic forces and conscious people.’

BNP arranged the programme at the party’s central office in Dhaka seeking eternal peace for the departed souls of its ex-secretary general Abdus Salam Talkuder and chairperson’s adviser Fazlur Rahman Patal, reports UNB.

On 11 August, Patal died at Rabindranath Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences in Kolkata at the age of 65, while Salam Taluker’s 17th death anniversary was observed today (Saturday) amid various programmes.

On 20 August in 1999, Salam Talukder died on way to Singapore for medical treatment.

Recalling Salam Talukder’s role in uniting the democratic forces during the anti-autocratic movement in the 90s, Fakhrul said it is also necessary now to forge a national unity to protect democracy, people’s rights and independence.

He alleged that the current government is pampering militancy through its activities instead of working to eliminate it.

The BNP leader said though the ruling party leaders often say BNP has involvement in militancy, they could not yet prove BNP’s any link to any such incident.

Rather, he claimed, most of the people arrested in connection with militancy are from ‘Awami’ families.

Under the current circumstances, Fakhrul called upon his party colleagues to work together putting aside discontent, division and conflict among them to unite the nation for turning Bangladesh into a true democratic country.

He also renewed BNP chairperson’s call for forging a national unity to fight against evil forces and militancy.

‘We would like to say it clearly that the government won’t be able to tackle militancy with its false propaganda, unless democracy and people’s rights are restored. People need to make empowered further by giving them more democratic space and establishing a pro-people government to resist militancy,’ he observed.