Staff Reporter:
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman yesterday said BNP will always stand by the families who lost their near and dear ones in the fight against fascism.
He said, “BNP leaders and activists have never assumed covert or dormant identities in the name of strategy. Alongside the movement against fascism, the utmost effort has been made to stand by the peo-ple who lost their loved ones. BNP will always stand by the families who lost their dear ones in the fight against fascism.”
The BNP Chairman made the remarks while exchanging views with family members of the victims of enforced disappearances, killings, and torture perpetrated by Awami fascism during the past democratic movement, at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center here. Amra BNP Poribar and Mayer Dak jointly organized the event.
Tarique Rahman said the days or nights of horror have ended. “The people of Bangladesh have started walking the path of democracy. For those who have lost their loved ones, the mothers who have lost their children, the sisters who have lost their husbands, the children who have lost their fathers- if we have to speak truly, we have no words adequate to console you.”
Mentioning that all the cases filed against BNP leaders and activists during the past government’s rule were political and motivated, Tarique Rahman said, every case filed against BNP leaders and activists during the fascist era was made with political motives. There are no words to console those who suffered various forms of torture and repression in the past. Despite being victims of enforced disappearances, killings, and various tortures, BNP leaders and activists did not leave the streets.
He further said, “BNP cannot be suppressed through conspiracies. We have recently seen the controver-sial role of the Election Commission, but as a political party, BNP will demonstrate patience. If BNP comes to power with the people’s mandate, roads and structures will be named after the martyrs who were victims of enforced disappearances and killings.”
This top BNP leader said some people want to obstruct the path of democracy with various talk and ex-cuses. Everyone must be vigilant so that those who want to hinder the progress of democracy cannot succeed. Because blocking the path of democracy would be the ultimate injustice to the martyrs, he add-ed.
Family members and relatives of victims of enforced disappearances, killings, and extrajudicial killings from across the country participated in this exchange of views meeting. BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman listened to the plight of families who have been victims of enforced disappearances, killings, and torture for 16 years. The venue became heavy with the cries, wails, and deep sighs of the relatives.
The event was jointly conducted by Sanjida Islam Tuli, Coordinator of Mayer Dak, and Zahidul Islam Roni, a member of Amra BNP Paribar.
BNP Standing Committee Member Salauddin Ahmed, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Tahsina Rushdil Luna, wife of missing BNP leader Ilias Ali, Hummam Qader Chowdhury, Con-vener of Amra BNP Paribar Atiqur Rahman Ruman, and members of martyrs’ families also spoke at the meeting.
