Hasan: Zia’s BNP that was involved in jail killings still terrorist organization

Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and his gang of killers had unequivocal involvement with both the Bangabandhu assassination on August 15 and the murders of four national leaders inside Dhaka jail on November 3 in 1975.

"So, BNP never expresses grief on Jail Killing Day. Now the party has turned into people's opponent due to its nasty terrorist activities during the hartal, which are heinous than those of dacoits and thieves," he said while replying to reporters after paying homage to national leaders at Banani graveyard.

Earlier, the party's central leaders, including Hasan, the joint general secretary of the Awami League, laid wreaths at the graves of four national leaders in Banani graveyard. They also paid tribute to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation, by placing wreaths at his portrait in Dhanmondi-32. 

The minister said the four national leaders - Syed Nazrul Islam, Tajuddin Ahmad, Captain Mansur Ali and AHM Quamaruzzaman were political colleagues of Bangabandhu and in death, they also accompanied the great leader as they were also assassinated in the same year following Bangabandhu's brutal assassination along with most of his family members.

They never betrayed Bangabandhu's ideas or allowed any form of influence to deviate from them, even before he was slain. He said the four national leaders demonstrated how to embrace martyrdom by adhering to their ideologies without faltering. 

In response to questions about current political affairs, he said that the BNP's horrific actions on October 28 had sparked protests all over the world. They then called for another three-day blockade, attacked regular people, and set cars on fire. While they commit crimes, thieves and dacoits do not burn people alive or set fire to their homes. 

BNP is no more a political party but rather a terrorist one as they are now announcing programs from "cave" on virtual platforms likewise terrorist groups, he said. 

The Awami League joint general secretary said they are determined to resist and eliminate terrorism and militant activities with the engagement of the people.

He also appealed to the people to build a strong resistance against those anarchic activities.

Asked about pre-election dialogue, Hasan said election arrangement is not the jurisdiction of the government rather the Election Commission (EC) does it, However, the government plays the role of facilitator and performs only routine duty after the announcement of poll schedule. 

"If EC calls to dialogue, we will join. Apart from that dialogues can be held among political parties but not with any terrorist organization," he said.