BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's statement on Bangladesh is a threat to independence and sovereignty. He demanded that such statements be withdrawn immediately.

The BNP Secretary General gave this reaction on behalf of the party to the media on mobile phone from London on Monday (December 2) afternoon.

The false story being spread in the Indian media about the deterioration of communal harmony in Bangladesh is unacceptable, said the BNP Secretary General. He said, we have said repeatedly, Indian journalists came here, they also saw... There is no such situation in Bangladesh. However, the way the Indian media and their leaders are spreading a complete lie and threatening the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh, the people of Bangladesh will in no way accept it.

He said, I saw a news in some newspapers this morning that I cannot refrain from commenting on the statement made by the Chief Minister of West Bengal, India, about Bangladesh. The statement she (Mamata Banerjee) made about sending UN peace keeping forces to Bangladesh… is completely a threat to the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh and we think that the view of the leaders has been revealed to some extent through this statement.

Mirza Fakhrul said, Mamata Banerjee should immediately withdraw this statement. No such thought should even come to her mind. Because, the people of Bangladesh became independent through the Liberation War and recently they got democracy back through a revolution. The people of this country will stop such a conspiracy at any cost.

Earlier on Monday, Mamata Banerjee said in the West Bengal Assembly, our proposal is that the Center should request the United Nations to send peace keeping forces to Bangladesh. She also said that she will give a written proposal in this regard to the Central government.

The Chief Minister of West Bengal said, for the last 10 days, I see that the Central government is silent. Her party (BJP) is holding processions every day. It is threatening to close the border. It is saying that it will not provide food. This is not within our jurisdiction. We want the Prime Minister or the Foreign Minister to talk. Let the two countries talk. If nothing happens, the Centre should send the Indians back. We can provide food.

Regarding the allegations of attacks on minorities, Mamata said, it is the matter of the Ministry of External Affairs. It is not our matter. But it is also true that many of our friends and relatives are in Bangladesh. No matter what religion, caste or nationality people are attacked, we condemn it. We want peace to be ensured. A resolution should be taken from this meeting that our friends should not be tortured.

Regarding the disrespect of the Indian flag in Bangladesh, the Chief Minister said, the disrespect of the national flag is not acceptable. I have also spoken to ISKCON. Regarding the 79 fishermen from West Bengal being imprisoned in Bangladeshi jails, Mamata Banerjee said that they are being provided legal assistance; she has spoken to the Central government on the matter.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and some Hindutva organizations have already started agitations in West Bengal and various parts of North-East India over allegations of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. Mamata Banerjee today proposed sending UN peace keeping forces after the CPI(M) Politburo expressed concern over the security of minorities in Bangladesh on November 28.

Dhaka: The grenade attack on the anti-terrorism rally organized by the Awami League on Bangabandhu Avenue on August 21, 2004, was planned by a foreign power. BNP was never involved in that grenade attack.

Mirza Abbas, a member of the BNP standing committee, said this at a discussion meeting at the National Press Club on Sunday (December 1) afternoon after the verdict in the case was announced.

He said, "Today, I want to give you news of a victory on the first day of victory. That is, you remember that there was a grenade attack on August 21. Since Tarique Rahman was not involved in that case, everyone including him has been acquitted."

He also said, "We have not received justice in the past days. I received the first good news today on the first day of December. We are expecting more good news ahead."

Claiming that foreign forces were involved in the August 21 case, Mirza Abbas said, the August 21 grenade attack was planned by a foreign force. BNP was never involved in that grenade attack. A foreign force wanted to frame our leader Begum Khaleda Zia and our leader BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman by committing this crime. They not only wanted to frame them, they also framed a false case and fabricated a story and sentenced him (Tarique Rahman) based on that story. Many others were sentenced in this case. Today, the verdict was given that Tarique Rahman was not involved in it, he has been acquitted.

At that time, Mirza Abbas also said that BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will return to the country very soon. He said, I will say that Tarique Rahman will return to us very soon in good health. For this, Allah has healed him, kept him healthy and acquitted him. I pray for his acquittal, may Allah grant him a long life so that he can serve the people of the country.

Dhaka: After almost six years, popular singer and adviser to the BNP chairperson Baby Nazneen was overwhelmed with emotion upon stepping foot on the soil of her birthplace, Saidpur, Nilphamari. At that time, she said, I don't believe in the politics of revenge. The country belongs to all of us. Our love for our country is eternal.

On Saturday (November 30), Baby Nazneen landed at Saidpur Airport on a plane from Dhaka at around 11:30 am. When she came out of the airport VIP lounge, hundreds of leaders, activists and visitors of BNP and its affiliates standing outside welcomed her with cheers.

When confronted by journalists at the airport, Baby Nazneen said, I have no anger about politics. I was with the party (BNP), I am with the party. Bangladesh got new independence in exchange for countless fresh lives. The dictatorship fell in the uprising of students and the masses. I will stand by the students and the public as much as I can.

At that time, Baby Nazneen respectfully remembered the words of BNP founder former President Ziaur Rahman, three-time former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, saying, "Building a prosperous Bangladesh is our commitment. I want to do something for my homeland. I have come to Syedpur to seek prayers for the recovery of uncompromising leader Khaleda Zia. I seek prayers for the martyrs who were martyred in the student uprising."

Later, Baby Nazneen went to the Bangalipur house of Sajjad Hossain, who was shot dead by the police during the mass uprising. She spent some time there. Syedpur BNP political district branch vice president Obaidur Rahman, joint general secretary Shamsul Haque, organizing secretary MA Parvez Liton, district Jubo Dal convener Tariq Aziz, and others were present.

Dhaka: Gono Forum Emeritus President Dr. Kamal Hossain has said that dialogue is essential among all democratic-minded political parties, individuals and civil society to maintain national consensus.

He said this in his presidential address at the seventh national conference of Gono Forum at the Engineers Institute Auditorium in the capital on Saturday (November 30) afternoon. Dr. Kamal Hossain's written statement was read out by the party's General Secretary Mizanur Rahman.

He said that in the past 16 years, state institutions had become almost ineffective due to shameless partisanship. It is the moral responsibility of all political parties and the people of the country to cooperate with the Dr. Muhammad Yunus government to reform these institutions and create a fair environment for elections so that the reforms are able to be carried out smoothly. In this regard, it is necessary to maintain the national consensus that has been created. For this, I think dialogue is essential among all democratic-minded political parties, individuals and civil society.

To the leaders of Gono Forum, Dr. Kamal Hossain said, focusing on today's council, we will further consolidate the unity. Whatever we can achieve through that unity, we can achieve a lot in the past. The lack of this unity has caused us a lot of losses in the past. Let us consolidate the unity that has been formed this time and achieve the declared goals.

Stating that new opportunities have been created to establish a democratic, just and humane Bangladesh, the Gono Forum Emeritus President said, the people of the country have dreamed of an independent and new Bangladesh. This achievement must be taken to the threshold of success. I hope that the leaders and activists will continue their relentless efforts to build a Bangladesh free of discrimination, including the rule of law, justice and human rights, in the democratic journey.

He also said, Gono Forum had identified the existing problems at the time of its birth and expressed a commitment to solve them. After 31 years, it has emerged as a more acute crisis. The country was ruled by undemocratic and authoritarian regimes, which violated the rule of law, justice and fundamental human rights, along with rampant looting, corruption and party-based politics, creating a terrible crisis and uncertainty everywhere. As a result, the Awami League government fell through an unforgettable mass uprising of students and the public.