Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader today said BNP has set a record of human rights violations, which is unprecedented in the contemporary world.
“The worst instance that BNP has set in human rights violations in this country would not be found anywhere in the world. They have broken all the world records to this end. We want to say this clearly. The talk of human rights does not suit them,” he said.
Quader, also the road transport and bridges minister, was addressing a press conference at the AL President’s Dhanmondi political office here this afternoon.
He said that despite widespread violations of human rights during the reigns of military dictator Ziaur Rahman and his wife Begum Zia, BNP leaders do not get ashamed.
“Even today, they (BNP leaders) say that the AL government is the first in human rights violations. But from 2001 to 2006, they killed around 21,000 AL leaders and activists,” he said.
The AL general secretary said the incident of August 15, 1975, is rare in world history, and this atrocity was one of the biggest incidents of human rights violations.
Four national leaders were killed in jail, while these killings were carried out to annihilate the pro-liberation forces, he said.
After Ziaur Rahman, BNP chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia started the politics of enforced disappearances and killings, Quader said, adding that BNP has created a hideous example of human rights violations in the country and has broken the record for human rights violations.
About the BNP’s blockade programme, he said that the conventional blockade and hartal are the result of the BNP’s failed movement.
Human rights violators are now vocal about human rights, the AL general secretary said, adding that listening to them, it seems that they are the soul agents of world leaders.
About the election campaign, Quader said the Awami League is likely to start its campaign in Sylhet on December 20.
Regarding seat sharing with AL allies, he said there is time to withdraw the candidature until December 17, and this issue will be resolved within this period.
AL presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak, joint general secretary and Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, AL joint general secretaries Mahbubul Alam Hanif and AFM Bahauddin Nasim, organising secretary Mirza Azam, office secretary Biplab Barua, and deputy office secretary Sayam Khan were, among others, present.
