Zainul Abedin Faruk, advisor to former President Ziaur Rahman and a leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), made a significant statement regarding the Gopalganj attack. He suggested that the public is beginning to realise this attack might be part of a new conspiracy to postpone the elections.
He made this statement on Thursday during a human chain and public protest concert held outside the National Press Club in Dhaka. The event was organized by JASAS, the cultural wing of the BNP. During the program, artists and party leaders voiced their opposition to comments made about Ziaur Rahman and Tarique Rahman.
'As Soon as Elections Are Discussed, Conspiracies Begin'
Faruk stated that whenever their leader Tarique Rahman discusses elections in London, certain forces in the country begin plotting. "Just look at the Gopalganj attack — it's hard to understand its real motive," he said. He alleged that this is not a new trend — every time elections approach, some form of conspiracy begins.
What Happened in the Gopalganj Violence?
Violence erupted in Gopalganj, Bangladesh, on Wednesday. The National Citizen Party (NCP) had organized a rally in Gopalganj that day. During the rally, supporters of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League protested, leading to violent clashes. The army even opened fire to control the crowd. Gopalganj is considered a stronghold of Sheikh Hasina — it is the hometown of her father and the founder of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
'Jamaat Should Not Forget History'
Faruk also targeted Jamaat-e-Islami in his speech. He said that when the Pakistani army attacked Bengalis in 1971, the country remembers who was celebrating. Now is the time for Jamaat to admit its past mistakes and apologize to the nation. He questioned the government: who are the 100,000 police officers for? It's been 11 months — why haven't elections been held yet? Does the government really want elections, or is it planning something else? Faruk emphasized that BNP leader Tarique Rahman envisions a Bangladesh where journalists can speak freely, families are not tortured in police stations, and false propaganda ends.
Many Prominent Figures Participated in the Event
The event was chaired by JASAS coordinator and actor Helal Khan. Renowned personalities like musician Nancy, JASAS General Secretary Zakir Hussain, and coordinator Ahsanullah Johnny were also present on the stage. The BNP made it clear that if free and fair elections are not held, the party will take to the streets with the public.
