Attack on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and Chhayanaut Right Under Government’s Nose: BNP

The BNP has announced its official position regarding the terrorist attacks carried out on Prothom Alo, The Daily Star, and Chhayanaut in Dhaka on Thursday night. The party’s Standing Committee believes that “yesterday (Thursday) evening, Inqilab Mancha President Sharif Osman Hadi passed away prematurely while undergoing treatment in Singapore. Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. We strongly condemn and denounce this cowardly killing. We once again demand the immediate arrest and trial of the perpetrators. Centering on this unexpected death, late last night a group of unruly individuals carried out arson attacks on the offices of several daily newspapers, including Prothom Alo and the English daily The Star. They pushed journalists on duty into life-threatening danger.”

These remarks were presented by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a Standing Committee press conference held on Friday night (19 December) at the Chairperson’s Office in Gulshan. The Standing Committee meeting was held at 8:00 pm that night and was chaired by Tarique Rahman.

The BNP Secretary General said, “An attack has been carried out on Nurul Kabir, Editor of New Age, President of the Editors’ Council, a fearless figure in the anti-fascist July movement and all democratic movements of the country, and a nationally respected journalist. Attacks have also been carried out on various cultural institutions including Chhayanaut. We strongly condemn and express our hatred for these heinous incidents.”

“This incident proves that an old, well-identified group is deliberately attempting to push the country toward chaos. Through these actions, they want to nullify our voting rights and democratic rights, achieved through the sacrifice of much blood, and establish a new version of fascism in the country. They are carrying out these activities right under the nose of the government. The people also believe that the government’s role has not been satisfactory. As a result, the image of the government and the country is being tarnished both at home and abroad.”

“It should be mentioned that all political parties across the country are already protesting the killing and demanding justice for the perpetrators.”

The BNP Secretary General noted, “Pressure is continuing on the government to arrest the killers and bring them to justice. In such a situation, we believe that these disgraceful attacks are part of a conspiracy to make the process of the upcoming national election and democratic transition uncertain.”

The Standing Committee believes, “On behalf of the peace-loving people of the country, we want to warn these despicable conspirators. We will not allow our country—achieved at the cost of so much blood—to be destroyed. This evil force must be resisted collectively. There is no alternative today but to unite all anti-chaos political and social forces to thwart this conspiracy.”

“Through the unity by which we brought about the fall of fascism and secured an interim government and a national election, in continuation of that same spirit, we once again call upon all patriotic forces to unite today.”