Despite concerns raised by global human rights organizations, evidence points to opposition members violating laws and human rights
Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen emphasized that no opposition party is being harassed, and no torture has been inflicted. Individuals involved in terrorism, burning homes, and damaging property, especially those responsible for burning buses, trains, and trucks, as well as killing people, are being brought to justice. The arrests are not politically motivated, and those detained are identified as terrorists.
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Earlier, six global human rights organizations expressed profound concerns about the human rights situation and the constriction of civil liberties leading up to the January 7 national elections. They issued a joint statement on the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights (RFKHR) website on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, alleging torture and imprisonment of opposition members before the elections. Contrary to these claims, the reality is that those being apprehended have violated human rights and the country’s laws.
What Does the Constitution of Bangladesh Say?
The Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees internationally recognized human rights, upholds principles of good governance, implements state fundamental principles, and protects fundamental rights. Such anti-democratic actions go against the constitution and the judicial system, and any democratic government worldwide would condemn such behavior.
BNP’s Arson Attacks and Vandalism After 28th October
Since the confrontations related to the BNP rally in Dhaka commenced on October 28, 2023, until 12th December, 2023, the fire service has received reports of 270 vehicles and 15 structures being set on fire across the country.
On Tuesday (December 12, 2023) at noon, Shahjahan Shikder, an official from the Fire Service Media Cell, disclosed that between October 28 and December 12 at 6 am, perpetrators damaged 270 vehicles and 15 structures through various arson attacks across the country. He specified that the damage included 168 buses, 44 trucks, 23 covered vans, 8 motorcycles, and 27 other vehicles that were burned in these incidents. Shahjahan Shikder further stated that seven arson cases were documented from December 11 to 6 a.m. on December 12, with the belief that miscreants instigated these incidents. In these occurrences, 6 buses and 1 abandoned private car sustained damage, and 2 firefighting units were deployed to extinguish the fire in each incident.
BNP has opposed the schedule for the 12th parliamentary elections, calling for elections under a non-partisan government. They have been organizing programs like hartal-blockades intermittently. Incidents of arson and vandalism are occurring regularly nationwide, including in Dhaka, during these protest movements.
BNP’s Arson Attacks in the Previous Years
The Nation has not forgotten the past BNP-Jamaat arson. Everyone remembers how innocent people were burnt to death. In 2013, the BNP-Jamaat clique started arson politics to stop the prosecution of war criminals. This destructive politics started when the trial for genocide, and crimes against humanity started in the Great War of Liberation. At that time, 492 people including 15 policemen were killed in 419 incidents, and around 2500 were injured. As soon as the judgment of the war criminals was announced one by one, killings, clashes, and arson started.
No one has forgotten the BNP alliance’s reign of terror against the January 5, 2014 elections. Then hundreds of vehicles were burnt. The air of the hospitals became heavy with the screams of people burnt by petrol bombs. Holy places of worship, mosques, temples, pagodas, and churches are also set on fire. Millions of trees were not spared from their hands. On election day, 26 innocent people including the presiding officer were killed. 582 polling stations were set on fire across the country. Overcoming these obstacles, the people won democracy that day.
Even on the first anniversary of the government on January 5, 2015, the BNP Jamaat clique again set fire to buses, trains, launches, and petrol bombs in government buildings and killed common people indiscriminately. At that time 231 people were killed. About 1200 people were seriously injured. 2 thousand 903 bus trucks, 18 trains, eight-passenger launches, seven land offices, and 70 government offices were set on fire. The Pakistani invaders of 1971 carried out horrors. The Awami League-led government took the people with it defeated the miscreants and brought the country back to normalcy. Democracy won, on the path of which Bangladesh is prosperous today.
On November 12, 2020, buses were set on fire at nine important places in the busiest capital city continuously from noon. On that day there was a by-election in Dhaka-18 seat. Knowing the sure defeat of the BNP candidate, the bus arson was planned to destabilize the election and spread fear among the people.
The Federal Court of Canada, in a political asylum case of a BNP leader (Citizenship and Immigration 2017 FC 94), held that the BNP was indeed a terrorist organization. BNP is a party that resorts to armed struggle or violence to achieve political objectives. BNP attacked leaders and people using hand grenades, pistols, and weapons. The group even causes incidents like arson. BNP was born through murders, coups, and conspiracies, so they never believed in the democratic movement. The movement of BNP means to hold people, hostage, by spreading fear among the people by doing arson and destructive activities. That is why they have gone far away from the people. It has now practically become the Jamaat’s B-Team.
The infernal terror carried out by the BNP-Jamaat from 2013-23 can only be compared to the ruthlessness of the Pakistani invader. They may hide themselves temporarily for strategic reasons. However, they rehearsed the real character that would come out when given the opportunity. Even though time has changed, the character of BNP has not changed.
Conclusion
The Minister of Foreign Affairs. A. K. Abdul Momen strongly asserted that people involved in terrorism and criminal activities have been arrested. Despite concerns raised by global human rights organizations, evidence points to opposition members violating laws and human rights. The Constitution of Bangladesh guarantees rights, and anti-democratic actions contradict its principles. The ongoing wave of arson attacks by the BNP reflects a historical pattern of violence, reinforcing the government’s stance against the party’s destructive activities.
