Won’t let sacrifices of slain leaders go in vain: BNP

Stating that their party has initiated a fresh movement across the country, including at the rural level, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said their party will not let the sacrifices of its slain leaders and the tears of their families go in vain.

"We launched a fresh movement up to village level across the country from yesterday (Monday) protesting the hike in the prices of fuel and daily essentials and ongoing load-shedding. People of the entire country are coming out on the streets with brig processions at almost every upazila and thana," he said.

Speaking at a programme, the BNP leader alleged that the ruling party 'cadres' attacked their party leaders and activists in different areas of the country, including in Laxmipur and Barishal to thwart the movement.

"The problem of Awami League and (Sheikh) Hasina is that they can't suppress BNP even after so much repression, killing and enforced disappearance. BNP is rising from debris like Phoenix birds. This is the biggest reason behind their anger and fear."

Jatiyatabadi Help Cell arranged the programme at BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office to provide financial assistance to the family members of some leaders and activists of the party and its associated bodies who were subjected to murder, enforced disappearance, extrajudicial killing and repression in the ongoing democratic movement.

On behalf of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, the relatives of 14 victims from Bhola, Feni, Netrakona and Chittagong, including the family members of Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader Noor-e-Alam who were killed in police firing in Bhola recently, re received financial assistance at the event.

Fakhrul said no democracy-loving people have now security in Bangladesh.

"The children, wives, mothers, brothers and sisters of Noor-e-Alam and Abdur Rahim are sitting over there. We won't let their tears go in vain. We must turn Bangladesh into a welfare state for people by removing the dreadful monstrous regime," he said.