Photo: Collected
Expressing full support and trust in the Bangladesh Army, National Citizen Party's Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah today (22 March) said political interference "from cantonment" will not be accepted in post-uprising Bangladesh. Speaking at a rally in the capital's Shahbagh this afternoon, demanding the trial of Awami League and cancellation of AL's registration as a political party, Hasnat said those who work in the cantonment should limit their work to there.
"We have full confidence in the Bangladesh army, full confidence in the institution. We have no anger towards any person. We want to tell all not to attack this institution and destabilise the country. You should remain uncompromising on the question of your sovereignty," he stressed.
Addressing the countrymen in this regard, he said, "Some are trying to make the countrymen stand against the army; our position is not against the army. Our position is against those who want to destabilise the country by pitting the army against us.
Appealing to the interim government, Hasnat said, "We have yet not seen the visible steps we were expecting from you. We do not want the Awami League to be banned through an executive order, but if the crimes committed by the Awami League – the way it has taken away people's freedom of speech, carried out murders and disappearances – is truly tried, it will not return to the land of Bengal even in the next 300 years."
He said the AL must be banned through a judicial process. Hasnat also said if even a single NCP member was alive, then the AL would not be allowed to be rehabilitated on Bangladeshi soil.
"The AL didn't flee the country through votes. It was forced to flee through the mass protest. Nowhere in the history of the world has anyone who fled through mass protest been brought back for election," he said.
On India, he said, "The reel of this country was in India, but the kite flew in Bangladesh. We cut the string through 5 August. The dominance of India will not be allowed to continue in Bangladesh."
Addressing the rally, the party's Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain also said the ban on the AL should be clearly mentioned in the July Charter.
"The people of Bangladesh have given their decision on Awami League by sacrificing their lives. We will not let them do politics in the AL name while we have a single drop of blood in our bodies. The AL boat has been washed away in the Bay of Bengal, it cannot be returned to Bangladesh," Akhtar said.
Criticising the interim government, he said it was a surprise that it had failed to start judicial activities against the AL even seven months after the uprising.
"Their registration must be cancelled as soon as possible," he demanded. Akhtar also rubbished the idea that AL had any good leadership, adding, "They have not accepted responsibility or regretted any killings so far. Whoever works for the Awami League, the people of Bangladesh will mount all-out resistance against them."
The rally started at around 3:30pm. After the leaders' speeches, a procession chanting slogans left for the Central Shaheed Minar from Shahbagh.
Messenger/JRTarek
