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BNP faces BJP wrath

BJP leaders slate extremism, price hike, deaths in Rab custody

STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Bangladesh Jatiya Party (BJP), a component of the BNP-led ruling alliance, yesterday blasted the government and the BNP high-ups for harbouring extremist elements and establishing an alternative
power centre at Hawa Bhaban.
Addressing an extended meeting of its central committee in the capital, the BJP leaders also came down heavily on the government for the price hike of essential commodities and deaths in the Rapid Action
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Battalion (Rab) custody.
In a resolution, the meeting expressed concern over the 'improper formation' of the four-party alliance government and nonimplementation of the pledges spelled out in the election manifesto of the alliance.
It said the alliance's election commitment was to separate the judiciary from the executive, give autonomy to the state-owned radio and television, hold Upazila Parishad elections, create employment and control price of essentials.
The BJP leaders were critical of BNP, the coalition leader, for not incorporating all partners in the cabinet where only two Jamaat leaders were included from the three other components of the alliance formed before 2001 polls.
Many BJP leaders termed Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh a fundamentalist force while party Chairman Naziur Rahman Manjur without naming any party said the government must take action against the fundamentalist forces.
"BNP is patronising the fundamentalist and extremist forces in the country," Manjur told the meeting expressing serious concern over the growth of religious extremism.
He said that instead of establishing Islamic values BNP is extending help to the fundamentalist forces.
The BJP leaders also criticised the opposition political parties for creating an anarchic situation in the country through national and international conspiracies.
They called upon the government to initiate open dialogue with major political parties on reforms of the election commission and other demands.
Leaders of the BJP central committee and 56 district units spoke at the meeting and almost all of them expressed similar views about the coalition government's performances in thelast three and a half years.
Many BJP leaders demanded that its top brasses take a quick decision whether the party will be with the alliance or not. "BJP is not a leased property of any other party," the BJP chairman said responding to his party leaders' views.
Manjur said, "The government should hold discussions with all on reforms of the existing election system and other demands raised by different quarters."
Manjur, who joined the four-party alliance deserting Jatiya Party of former president HM Ershad, expressed his frustration over the rise of political violence and held all political parties responsible for the situation.
He blamed the government for its failure to keep the prices of essentials under control. "People will reject BNP if it fails to reduce the price hikes," he said.
Pointing to a senior minister's recent statement about negligible hike in rice price, the BJP chief said, "Don't tell lie about the prices of essentials. Visit the kitchen markets and give statements whether prices have increased or not."
Referring to the killings in Rab custody, Manjur said the extrajudicial killings have to be stopped.
Several BJP leaders blamed BNP for establishing an alternative power centre at Hawa Bhaban. Advocate Abdul Halim from Sylhet said BNP has introduced a dual rule
by the Prime Minister's Office and the Hawa Bhaban.
Ahsanul Haque from Brahmanbaria said, "BNP is governing the country with razakars (collaborators of Pakistan occupation forces in 1971) and fundamentalists."
"We cannot tolerate the rule of razakars who opposed our independence," he added.
Party leader Abdur Rashid from Sherpur said, "We do not want see the national flag in Nizami's and Mujahidi's car."
Mokarram Hossain Thandu from Jhenidah labelled the BNP high-ups as traitors and said, "Without BJP, the alliance would have been a coalition of fundamentalists."
SM Zakaria from Tangail said the party should take a clear-cut stand on whether it will go with the ruling alliance or act as an opposition party. "We have been deceived and we don't want to be deceived in future," he said.
Nizamur Rahman, a leader from Barisal, said, "People laugh at us when we identify ourselves as a partner of ruling alliance."
BJP Secretary General Saifur Rahman, Kazi Alauddin MP, MM Aminuddin MP, Prof Humayun Kabir Hiru, SM Akram and other presidium members were present at the meeting.
On March 8, three top BJP leaders including its secretary general Kazi Feroz Rashid resigned and joined the Jatiya Party of HM Ershad.
The BJP and the Islamic Oikya Jote (IOJ) are the two partners of the ruling alliance which do not have representation in the cabinet.
The IOJ leaders earlier also made public statements against the BNP and Jamaat leaders after the government's drive to arrest of Islamist extremists and raids on madrasas, which they said have no connection with militancy.