National Citizen Party (NCP) Senior Joint Convener Hasnat Abdullah has remarked that although activists of Chhatra Dal have suffered political oppression and adversity for a long time, they are currently not receiving proper evaluation within their own party. He said that activists who made sacrifices on the streets now have to run behind ministers’ cars, whereas the children of those leaders never took to the streets.
Addressing the student wing, Hasnat said, “Chhatra Dal has politically struggled with so much hardship. But look, today you do not even have evaluation within your own party. At the end of the day, you have to run behind ministers’ cars”. He expressed apprehension that after a few days, these leaders and activists might even have to run behind the cars of the ministers’ sons.
He made these remarks on Wednesday afternoon during a mass contact drive in Gulistan, Dhaka, held ahead of the NCP’s upcoming protest demonstration.
Hasnat observed that many political leaders keep their own children safely abroad while utilising other people’s children in politics. During times of crisis, their family members remain overseas while grassroots activists take risks on the streets. Referring to the death of Shakil, he said, “The price of Shakil da’s dead body is 20 lakh taka, merely 20 lakh taka”.
Directing his message to the leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal, Hasnat emphasised that this struggle is not a party fight, but a battle against the corruption, deception, and political recklessness of the previous generation. He said, “We are not your enemies. We want a qualitative change in the political system”.
Criticising the past actions of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Hasnat alleged that during the party’s rule from 2001 to 2006, influence was exerted from Hawa Bhaban regarding the posting of police and administration officials. He called upon the media to clarify to the nation why the One-Eleven political situation was created.
Raising allegations against a Member of Parliament’s son for shooting and killing a person, Hasnat said that they want to see how much justice is served in this incident. In his view, if any MP’s son kills a person, that MP has no right to remain in office.
In the same speech, Hasnat demanded the removal of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Hossain Fakir. He alleged that cases are being filed against critics of the government and threats of crossfire are being issued through the IGP. Urging police members not to be used for political interests, he stated that their duty is to protect the constitution, the people, and the country’s sovereignty.
The NCP leader also called upon small traders to unite against extortion. He expressed the determination to defeat extortionists and establish the rule of justice in Dhaka South under the leadership of Nasir Uddin Patwari.
