Shahbagh staged by govt: BNP - bdnews24.com
Shahbagh staged by govt: BNPChief political correspondent, bdnews24.com
Published: 2013-02-10 13:06:45.0 Updated: 2013-02-10 13:06:45.0
BNP standing committee member ASM Hannan Shah has described the mass protests at Shahbagh as a drama staged by the government.
The intelligence agencies are providing funds and logistics support to keep the protests at Shahbagh going . There is no way the government can absolve itself from the charge of trying to use these protests for political mileage, Hannan Shah told a discussion on Sunday.
This is no mass movement, it is all set up.
The police control is just fifty yards away from Shahbagh and Jamaat leader Ghulam Azam is barely 100 yards away (in a hospital). Both are witness to this drama, Shah said.
Shahbagh, now rechristened Projonmo Chattar (Generation Square) became the centre of the spontaneous protests since Tuesday, after the war crimes tribunal announced life-in-jail verdict for Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla for his role in the atrocities during the 1971 Liberation War.
Tens of thousands have joined the protest, spurred by messages flying across social networking sites or by word of mouth. Many, especially the young, have stayed on for six days now.
On Friday, an ultimatum was read out from Shahbagh demanding death for all war criminals of 1971 with a vow not to leave the roundabout until that is achieved.
Hannan Shah alleged that while Abul Kalam Azad was given death penalty , Abdul Quader Molla was given life-in-jail on almost similar charges.
That proves that the government is doctoring the verdicts by influencing the tribunals, he said.
The governments dual policy becomes evident through these two verdicts.
He questioned statements by leaders and ministers of the ruling coalition , some of whom have questioned the verdict on Molla .
LGRD minister Syed Ashraful has even said all the accused will be hanged . If we say something about such verdicts, we face charges of contempt of court. But the ruling party leaders and ministers can get away saying anything they want, Hannan Shah observed.
He said the BNP was not opposed to the war crimes trials.
"But if the Awami League is sincere about trying war criminals , it should bring to justice the identified 195 war criminals who were let off by the Mujib government," Shah said. "All those who supported the Pakistanis and are now part of the Awami League should also face the trials."
Shah alleged that members of the ruling party distributed biscuits and foodstuff among the protesters at Shahbagh.
He said that the people of Bangladesh will welcome the fall of the ruling government if that happens through the Shahbagh protests.
He said that not only did the Jamaat oppose Bangladesh's war for freedom, even the pro-Chinese parties were opposed to the Liberation War.
"These elements are all around Sheikh Hasina now. This proves what this government is all about," he alleged.
Shahbagh staged by govt: BNPChief political correspondent, bdnews24.com
Published: 2013-02-10 13:06:45.0 Updated: 2013-02-10 13:06:45.0
BNP standing committee member ASM Hannan Shah has described the mass protests at Shahbagh as a drama staged by the government.
The intelligence agencies are providing funds and logistics support to keep the protests at Shahbagh going . There is no way the government can absolve itself from the charge of trying to use these protests for political mileage, Hannan Shah told a discussion on Sunday.
This is no mass movement, it is all set up.
The police control is just fifty yards away from Shahbagh and Jamaat leader Ghulam Azam is barely 100 yards away (in a hospital). Both are witness to this drama, Shah said.
Shahbagh, now rechristened Projonmo Chattar (Generation Square) became the centre of the spontaneous protests since Tuesday, after the war crimes tribunal announced life-in-jail verdict for Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla for his role in the atrocities during the 1971 Liberation War.
Tens of thousands have joined the protest, spurred by messages flying across social networking sites or by word of mouth. Many, especially the young, have stayed on for six days now.
On Friday, an ultimatum was read out from Shahbagh demanding death for all war criminals of 1971 with a vow not to leave the roundabout until that is achieved.
Hannan Shah alleged that while Abul Kalam Azad was given death penalty , Abdul Quader Molla was given life-in-jail on almost similar charges.
That proves that the government is doctoring the verdicts by influencing the tribunals, he said.
The governments dual policy becomes evident through these two verdicts.
He questioned statements by leaders and ministers of the ruling coalition , some of whom have questioned the verdict on Molla .
LGRD minister Syed Ashraful has even said all the accused will be hanged . If we say something about such verdicts, we face charges of contempt of court. But the ruling party leaders and ministers can get away saying anything they want, Hannan Shah observed.
He said the BNP was not opposed to the war crimes trials.
"But if the Awami League is sincere about trying war criminals , it should bring to justice the identified 195 war criminals who were let off by the Mujib government," Shah said. "All those who supported the Pakistanis and are now part of the Awami League should also face the trials."
Shah alleged that members of the ruling party distributed biscuits and foodstuff among the protesters at Shahbagh.
He said that the people of Bangladesh will welcome the fall of the ruling government if that happens through the Shahbagh protests.
He said that not only did the Jamaat oppose Bangladesh's war for freedom, even the pro-Chinese parties were opposed to the Liberation War.
"These elements are all around Sheikh Hasina now. This proves what this government is all about," he alleged.