Rashed Khan, political assistant to the prime minister, has alleged that the Awami League was plotting from India to create unrest during the upcoming Sharadiya Durga Puja festival.
Speaking to journalists after a preparatory meeting at the Jhenaidah Shishu Academy Auditorium.
He said the government had information about the Awami League’s alleged conspiracies against the elected BNP government.
Rashed warned that anyone attempting to disrupt the festival would face a stern response.
He urged leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organisations to remain prepared and vigilant to counter any such attempts.
Criticising the Awami League, Rashed alleged that the party had remained in power for 16 years with India’s support and established what he described as a fascist system under Indian protection and patronage.
He claimed that attacks on members of the Hindu community, land grabbing and attacks on temples had occurred predominantly during the Awami League’s rule. Despite that record, he alleged, Awami League leaders were continuing to conspire against the country’s elected BNP government while staying in India.
Rashed said people of all religious communities, including Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians, were living together peacefully in Bangladesh. He called on leaders and activists of all political parties, including the BNP, to remain alert during Durga Puja to preserve communal harmony and prevent any attempts to create unrest.
Turning to Jamaat-e-Islami, Rashed described battery-operated auto-rickshaws as a major nuisance in Dhaka, saying they had contributed to severe traffic congestion and made the capital increasingly unliveable. He said the government was formulating a policy to regulate auto-rickshaw operations and was working sincerely to clear illegally occupied footpaths.
However, he accused the Jamaat-e-Islami secretary general of politicising the issue and instigating the auto-rickshaw drivers’ movement behind the scenes.
Earlier, Rashed attended the preparatory meeting on the smooth celebration of Sharadiya Durga Puja as the chief guest.
Jhenaidah Deputy Commissioner Md Noman Hossain presided over the meeting.
Superintendent of Police Mia Md Ashish Bin Hasan, District Council Administrator MA Majid, District BNP General Secretary Zahiduzzaman Mona, District BNP Vice-President Munshi Kamal Azad Pannu, District Hindu Buddhist Unity Council Convener Chandan Basu Mukta and District Puja Udjapan Parishad General Secretary Binoy Krishna Biswas were among the guests.
