MP Nazrul Islam Azad: Those saying will return in Dec may return in 2040

Narayanganj-2 MP and BNP Dhaka divisional joint organisational secretary Nazrul Islam Azad has said BNP leaders and activists have been on the streets and will remain there in the future. “We did not flee; Sheikh Hasina and her followers fled,” he said.

He made the remarks while addressing the rally as the chief speaker organised by Narayanganj Metropolitan BNP at Chashara Central Shaheed Minar in Narayanganj city on Sunday afternoon against attempts to destabilise the country through planned violence.

Narayanganj Metropolitan BNP convener and NCC administrator Advocate Sakhawat Hossain Khan presided over the rally. Nazrul Islam Azad was the chief speaker, while Narayanganj-5 MP Advocate Abul Kalam attended as a special guest. Metropolitan BNP member secretary Advocate Abu Al Yusuf Khan Tipu moderated the event. Advocate Zakir Hossain, Advocate Sarker Humayun Kabir, Fateh Mohammad Reza Ripon and Metropolitan Jubo Dal convener Monirul Islam Sajal, among others, also spoke.

Azad said, “Those who tell stories about returning to the country in December may perhaps return in 2040.”

He said those who had fled after killing students and members of the public lacked the morale and mental strength to return. “But they have no shame. After fleeing, they are now making big statements and trying to take credit,” he said.

Advocate Fazlur Rahman said Sheikh Hasina had deprived the people of their democratic rights. He said the 2014 election was held unilaterally, the votes in 2018 were cast at night instead of during the day, and the 2024 election was an “I-and-dummy election.”

He also said there was no reason to believe that anyone could easily push the BNP out of the political arena. The BNP leader claimed that although Sheikh Hasina keeps saying she is “coming, coming”, she will not return to the country.

Regarding Jamaat-e-Islami, Fazlur Rahman said people should remain cautious about those who opposed the Liberation War and were involved in the killing of intellectuals. Referring to the killings of intellectuals including Munier Chowdhury, Alim Chowdhury, Shahidullah Kaiser and Zahir Raihan, he said it would be a mistake to consider Jamaat close to the BNP.

He said Jamaat leaders made one type of statement after entering parliament and then spoke outside parliament about driving the BNP out of the country. BNP leaders and activists should remain cautious about the matter, he added.

Addressing BNP leaders and activists, Fazlur Rahman said they must maintain integrity if they wanted Tarique Rahman and the BNP to remain in state power. “If you engage in extortion, profiteering or show arrogance of power, the people will not accept it,” he said. He also acknowledged that the BNP had made some mistakes and said the party should learn from them.

- MaT