BNP men will be first to face crossfire if govt begins it: Hasnat

Cumilla-4 lawmaker and National Citizen Party (NCP) Senior Joint Convener Hasnat Abdullah has warned that if the government launches crossfire operations against extortionists and tender manipulators, members of the ruling BNP will be the first to face them.

“BNP government, if you start carrying out crossfire killings, you will not find a single person from your own party to spare. Because those who need to face crossfire are extortionists and tender manipulators. Those who extort money from businesses and take bribes by promising jobs must face it. And when the police carry out these operations, they will have to target members of your own party,” he said.

“Not all BNP members are involved in extortion, that is true. But it is equally true that everyone involved in extortion belongs to the BNP,” he added.

Hasnat made the remarks at a rally at Murali intersection in Jashore city yesterday evening (31 October), as part of the 11-party alliance’s long march along the Dhaka-Khulna-Jashore-Jhenaidah-Kushtia route.

Claiming that an atmosphere of insecurity had emerged across the country, Hasnat said people were being denied even the right to express concerns about their safety.

He alleged that police were forcibly taking people from their homes for speaking about insecurity under the BNP government.

Referring to the detention of a woman named Sathi Akter in Mymensingh, he said she had gone live on Facebook to express regret over voting for the BNP.

“Police picked her up from her home after the broadcast,” he said.

“We are speaking at a time when the IGP threatens us with crossfire if we protest,” Hasnat added.

Hasnat also criticised the government over the lack of employment opportunities, saying university graduates were struggling to find jobs.

“After completing their studies, young people have to go from door to door in search of jobs, but there are none,” he said.

He questioned government claims about employment opportunities in Japan and Malaysia.

Hasnat said the government had announced that Japan would create jobs for 100,000 people following a visit there, but the Japanese government later said no such agreement had been reached.

He made a similar allegation about an announcement following a government visit to Malaysia, saying the country had denied any agreement to create 200,000 jobs.

“Our people want food, employment and the security to live safely. BNP government, let us live and provide us with jobs. Otherwise, people will take to the streets again,” he said.

Hasnat also accused the government of failing to fulfil its pre-election commitment to reform state institutions.

He questioned the appointment of officials from private companies as managing directors of Sonali, Rupali, Janata and Agrani banks, saying the institutions were already struggling with loan defaults.

“The BNP government has no plan to revive these banks,” he said.