BNP, alliance partners to hold gayebana janaza for slain quota protesters

The leaders and workers of BNP and other parties involved in the simultaneous movement will hold gayebana janazas across the country on Wednesday for the students killed in the quota reform movement.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced this program at a press conference after a meeting with the leaders of Ganatantra Mancha at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office on Tuesday.

In the capital, he said a gayebana janaza will be held at the north gate of the national mosque Baitul Mukarram after Zuhr prayers.

Fakhrul said a similar program will be held across the country on the same day.

"The leaders and workers of all political parties involved in the simultaneous movement will participate in gayebana janazas tomorrow (Tuesday) at Baitul Mukarram Mosque after Zuhr prayers to pray for the salvation of the souls of those who were killed today (Tuesday)," he said.

The BNP leader also called upon opposition leaders and workers to hold gayebana janazas across the country.

At the press conference, he also read out a joint declaration of the political parties involved in the movement.

"We think the entire responsibility for this incident lies with the government and the ruling party. Instigation has been given from the highest levels of the government and directives given to the Chhatra League to counter the peaceful justified movement of general students, creating the grounds for the incidents that happened during the last two days,” Fakhrul said.

He accused the government of creating a violent situation in the country through state-sponsored terror in a planned way by resorting to repression and violence. “We strongly condemn and protest against it.”

The BNP leader said the government still has not taken any legal action against over a hundred ruling party cadres involved in violence. "We strongly condemn and protest against it."

He bemoaned that the government has yet to take legal action against over a hundred ruling party activists involved in violence. "We demand the immediate arrest of all these terrorists within 24 hours."

On behalf of the alliance partners, Fakhrul expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life in police firings and armed attacks by the Chhatra League. "We extend our sympathy to the families of those who were killed and injured. We also express our sympathy to the many journalists who were injured and tortured while covering the news."

He called on the government to promptly address the demands of the quota protesters and urged the country’s people to be vocal about the just demands of the students.

Earlier, a BNP delegation led by Fakhrul had met with Ganosamhati Andolon Chief Coordinator Zonayed Saki, Nagarik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Bangladesh-er Biplobi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, Bhashani Onusari Parishad Convenor Sheikh Rafiqul Islam, and Rasta Songskar Andolon’s Chief Coordinator Hasnat Quayum.

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and BNP Vice Chairman Barkatullah Bulu accompanied Fakhrul at the meeting.