BNP, Jamaat still talk of humanity, wonders Khalid Mahmud

State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury has wondered that BNP and Jamaat speak about humanity despite unleashing massacres like that of the August 21 grenade attack on an Awami League rally in Dhaka in 2004.

He as the chief guest was addressing a rally in Bochaganj upazila of Dinajpur on Sunday, marking the 18th anniversary of the attack that killed 24 people including some senior leaders of Awami League.

The upazila unit Awami League organized the event, presided over by its President Abu Syed Hossain. 

Khalid, also the party’s organizing secretary, recalled that the attack was aimed at killing Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina, who was the opposition leader during the 2001-2006 BNP-Jamaar government. 

“We never became cruel to such inhumanity as we never acted against humanity. We want Bangladesh to remain a humane state,” he said. 

Criticising the BNP-Jamaat clique, Khalid the parties killed many of his party colleagues after coming to power in 2001. 

“Many were subjected to enforced disappearance and Hindus were targeted during the regime. And now you’ve come to teach humanity!,” he exclaimed. 

Afetr the August 15 killing of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, the rule of law had disappeared from the country, he said.

“But Sheikh Hasina restored it after taking office and the constitutional proceedings have been continuing properly since 2014. Basic rights are in place for all beliefs. Equal rights have been ensured,” he added.