Excellencies,

My colleagues – Hon’ble Ministers/Adviser,

Senior government officials, 

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon,

Let me thank you for your attendance at a short notice.

I have with us today [may kindly like to introduce Hon’ble ministers and senior officials]

Excellencies,

You have already learned through print, electronic and social media about the killings of innocent citizen and law enforcement agent, arson, vandalism and violence by the BNP activists.

We are shocked at what unfolded on the 28^th of October and yesterday. We are not, however, surprised as we experienced BNP-Jamaat’s dreadful violence in the past as well.

My only regret is that they have not changed much!

Excellencies,

BNP and its allies have a long history of violence and aggression.

In the early 2000s, BNP-Jamaat promoted an atmosphere of violence and intimidation, particularly during the 2001 general elections, which was marred by widespread violence and allegations of vote rigging. After the election, BNP-Jamaat activists committed murders and severely tortured members of the minority community and gang-rape of women.

In 2013, before the general elections, the BNP and its allies vandalized several thousand of vehicles and set many of those on fire using petrol bombs very often burning alive the passengers stranded inside. Some of them are still living with horrific scars and trauma.

More than 400 people, including 20 law enforcement officers, were killed in their petrol-bomb and hand-grenade attacks.

We dispatched an information note in the evening of 28 October summarizing the rampant violence conducted by the BNP activists. You have watched the footage on TV and online how the on-duty police officer was beaten to death or how the precious life of public a transport worker was taken by torching a public bus.

I believe you have noticed the striking similarities between the scenarios of 2013-14-15 and now.

You may also have observed that this time their target is more on the Police and Judiciary. Apart from brutally beating one policeman to death, they attacked the residences of Hon’ble Chief Justice and other judges, torched six police outposts. 65 police officers were admitted at the Police Hospital and another to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

They even set fire to the Police Hospital premises and to ambulances causing disruption of emergency medical services.

BNP did not spare on-duty journalists and camera personnel. The BNP activists attacked and critically injured at least 25 media professionals. Bangladesh Federal Journalist Union (BFUJ) issued a note condemning such activities.

BNP activists were seen gathering sticks, lathis, iron rods etc. for the last few days and hiding them for use on the day of the demonstration.

Excellencies,

As you may already be aware BNP has called for a three-day nation-wide blockade starting from tomorrow. We can only expect more and more assault on the lives and properties of our citizens. However, apart from the law-and-order aspect, there is an economic aspect of the strikes and blockades too. According to the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, strikes and blockades by BNP cost the country a total of Tk. 1,600 crore (or USD 192.3 million) or 0.2 per cent of GDP per day.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

BNP often played victim to misguide diplomatic missions and our foreign friends in order for gaining sympathy. This time, all on a sudden, we saw a so-called “adviser” to the US President Joe Biden speaking to the press at the BNP party office flaked by senior BNP leaders. Later, it was revealed that he is an imposter and he admitted that the BNP leaders instigated him to misguide people. We also thank the US Embassy for confirming that he has no ties with the US government.

The motive of BNP behind terrorizing the nation and misguiding our people is to impede democratic processes and to promote unconstitutional forces.

BNP’s tactics of fear and forgery did not work out before and they will not now.

We reaffirm our government’s strong and unwavering stance to stick to the democratic process as mandated by the Constitution and hold free, fair and credible elections in time.

Before I conclude and hand over to my colleagues, I would like to, however, emphasize that every human life matters! We will keep showing utmost patience and restraint, and at the same time our law enforcement agencies should also do everything under their disposal within the legal parameters in their self-defense and to provide safety and security to our citizens, to maintain public order and to foil any attempt to destroy our private and public properties and to destabilize the country or to damage the democratic and constitutional processes.

Thank you.

Jai Bangla!

Jai Bangabandhu!