Hasan urges BNP to stand by Govt against social vices

Publish: 7:03 PM, September 25, 2019 | Update: 7:03 PM, September 25, 2019

DHAKA,– Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today urged BNP and other political parties to stand beside the government to eliminate all anomies and wrongful activities in the country.

“Let’s work together to eliminate corruption and irregularities to free the nation from all vices without criticizing the government’s initiatives,” he said, addressing a discussion at Jatiya Press Club here.

Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote Organized the discussion marking the 87th death anniversary of Pritilata Waddedar, the first woman who embraced martyrdom for the country’s liberation from British rule in 1932.

The information minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had banned the businesses of liquor and drugs and gambling.

“But BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, who established fundamentalism, had introduced the illegal businesses of gambling, liquor, drug and vulgar dance in the country. He initiated all these ill-doings,” he added.

Dr Hasan said Begum Khaleda Zia fulfilled her husband Ziaur Rahman’s dream by making ministers those people who didn’t want the independence of Bangladesh.

He said BNP’s secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is talking on the recent casino issue and criticizing the drives keeping beside him Mirza Abbas and Mosaddek Hossain Falu who were the godfathers and introduced the business of casino.

The minister said BNP gave an institutional shape to all anomies, irregularities and corruption during their regimes.

“But now, when the country is on the highways of development under the dynamic leadership of Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina, then some conspirators are plotting conspiracies. There are many infiltrators in the party. Moral tablature of some leaders has taken place too. Casino is an illegal business and those involved in the business are the infiltrators,” he added.

Dr Hasan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina gave order to run drives against all involved in such corruption and irregularities. No one will be spared, he added.

Terming social media posts and news of some online portals, Dr Hasan said Tarique Rahman showed his income from casino in his tax return in London. “So, I’m urging Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to see their own faces in the mirror before criticizing anyone,” he added.

Dr Hasan, also the publicity and publication secretary of AL, said almost all political parties, including Jatiya Party appreciated and congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s great initiatives. But BNP didn’t do that rather they are criticizing the government stance, he added.

The minister said it is BNP’s political bankruptcy that they are not able to congratulate the prime minister and appreciate her stance.

Paying rich tribute to Pritilata, Dr Hasan said she was a Bengali revolutionary nationalist from the Indian subcontinent, who was an influential one in the Indian independence movement.

“After completing her education in Chattogram and Dhaka, she attended Bethune College in Kolkata. Pritilata graduated in philosophy with distinction,” he added.

After a brief stint as a school teacher, he said, Pritilata joined a revolutionary group, headed by Surya Sen. She led a team of fifteen revolutionaries in 1932 attack on the Pahartali European Club, which had a sign board that read “Dogs and Indians not allowed”.

The minister said the revolutionaries torched the club and were later held by the British police. To avoid arrest, Pritilata took cyanide and killed herself.

He urged the journalists to focus the life and politics of Pritilata so the new generation could get inspiration from her.

AL Deputy Publicity Secretary Aminul Islam, AL Dhaka North unit General Secretary Shahe Alam Murad, AL leader Aktar Hossain and BSJ General Secretary Arun Sarker Rana, among others, also spoke with BSJ President Sarah Begum Kabori in the chair.