BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy on Thursday alleged that minority communities in Bangladesh were attacked because they did not vote for the boat symbol in the election.
He made the remarks at a human chain titled "Where is the End of the Insult to Women", organized by the Women and Children Rights Forum in front of the Jatiya Press Club.
Gayeshwar said, "Minorities abandoned the boat and voted for the eagle symbol. Because of this, they were attacked. Newspapers in both Bangladesh and India reported that minorities are being persecuted in Bangladesh."
"In Jhenaidah, members of the Hindu community voted for the eagle symbol and were attacked. The same happened in Faridpur, where minorities in the jail area came under attack for voting for AK Azad's eagle symbol," he added.
Calling the development a positive sign, Gayeshwar said, "The vote bank has been broken. Minorities have not voted for the boat. India's Narendra Modi-the people you control in Bangladesh will not remain. This kingdom will collapse. We will stand by the people and work to make the country independent again."
Recalling the rape of a woman by Chhatra League leaders at Jahangirnagar University, he said, "Chhatra League has celebrated a century of rape at this university. During the Liberation War, Pakistani forces violated the dignity of our mothers and sisters. Today, another force is violating the honor of women in Bangladesh."
Commenting on the Law Minister's statement that the trial of journalist couple Sagar-Runi could take 50 years, Gayeshwar said, "If such murders cannot be tried even in 50 years, why should this government remain in power for even 50 days"
He claimed that no real election or independence is possible under the current government.
"People will never feel safe. Dignity and survival cannot exist under them," he said.
On the conflict along the Myanmar border, he remarked, "People are dying from bullets on the Myanmar border and along the Indian border. Yet, we remain silent. Then why are we buying weapons worth thousands of crores"
"Using these weapons on our own people cannot make a country free. Freedom was not meant for leaders to sit in power while oppressing others," he added.
Gayeshwar also criticized law enforcement, saying, "Bodybuilder Farooq died in police custody. If police want to act like hooligans, they should not wear uniforms. Courts remain blind to such cases. If judges ignore their duties, where will the people turn"
Other BNP leaders, including Selima Rahman, Vice Chairman Abdul Awal Mintu, and Executive Committee member Nipun Roy Chowdhury, also addressed the human chain.
