Mirza Abbas warns: Without unity, democracy in Bangladesh is just a dream

BNP leader Mirza Abbas has made a strong statement, saying that without unity, true democracy will remain out of reach for Bangladesh. 

He also stressed that no political party has faced the harsh consequences of the 1/11 political crisis like BNP did.

Mirza Abbas shared these thoughts during a prayer event held at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan on Friday. 

The occasion marked the 10th anniversary of Arafat Rahman Koko‍‍`s death. Koko, the younger son of BNP’s founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, passed away ten years ago.

Abbas was reacting to comments made by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in a recent interview. 

On Thursday, Nahid Islam, an adviser to the interim government, posted on Facebook that Fakhrul’s call for a neutral government was basically hinting at the formation of another government similar to the one that took place on 1/11.

Mirza Abbas addressed this by saying, 

“The media has been writing a lot about BNP. Some are claiming that BNP is trying to bring back the 1/11 situation. The consequences of 1/11 were far worse for BNP than anyone else. If someone says otherwise, they are speaking for themselves, not on behalf of BNP. If there is division, the country will never experience true democracy.”

He also talked about the tragic death of Arafat Rahman Koko, saying, 

"Arafat Rahman Koko was killed in a deliberate and calculated manner. I pray for his soul. Khaleda Zia is not in the best health, but she is stable. The sacrifices made by the Zia family in Bangladesh‍‍`s history are rare. She was pushed toward death through slow poisoning."

The BNP leader also responded to claims that BNP is somehow working alongside the ruling Awami League. He said, 

“Some people are making statements claiming that BNP is with the Awami League. Those people should look at themselves in the mirror. Every leader and worker of BNP has faced torture. The pro-India groups want to turn BNP into their ally. There are many people abroad making accusations and trying to confuse the people. They are trying to mislead the public by suggesting that BNP is planning to form a new party.”

Mirza Abbas warned, 

“It won’t end well for those trying to benefit by pushing BNP into a different camp while recognizing the contributions of just a few people. Some people speak badly about BNP, yet wait for an opportunity to take power – I’m referring to Jamaat-e-Islami.”