The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

BNP Acting Secretary General Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed yesterday said the 'evil politics' pursued by his party and the Awami League in last 10 years pushed the country into the current crisis.

"Dishonest, corrupt and terrorist elements were patronised and even promoted to the state power during the last 10 years," he said, adding the AL initiated the process while BNP continued it, as it (BNP) became deviated from the ideals and teachings of the late President Ziaur Rahman.

Justifying his contention, Major Hafiz said, "Three of the four home ministers during the tenure of the last two (AL and BNP) governments are now in jail on charge of harboring corruption, terrorism and for their alleged link with the militant."

Neither any development will take place in the country, nor its law and order improve if the heads of law enforcers protect corruption, terrorists and militants, he added.

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Major Hafiz said this while speaking at regular press briefing at his Banani residence in the city.

Turning to the November 7 assault on BNP Standing Committee member Lt Gen (retd) Mahbbuur Rahman by activists of the rival faction of the party near Zia's mazar, the BNP leader regretted that all other political parties failed to condemn the incident, exposing 'political test'.

"The November 7 incident is a testimony of the culture of assaulting people of different opinions introduced by the Awami League and it was carried through by the BNP in last 10 years," he said.

Asked as to whether he would demand the release of member of the BNP Advisory Council Brig Gen (retd) ASM Hannan Shah, who was arrested in connection with the November 7 incident, Major Hafiz said, "The law will take its own course, as he was not arrested on political ground."

He, however, hastened to add, saying, "But I must say, he (Hannan Shah) should get justice."

He said the initiatives for keeping party unity in the party are being continued. Some of the party members have started deviating from the ideals of late President Ziaur Rahman again, he noted with concern.

"Acting chairperson Saifur Rahman and myself have talked with the senior party leaders and the National Executive Committee members on the way to unify the party and consolidate its organisation," he said, expressing the hope that the party would be united under its Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia's leadership before the next general elections.

Replying to a question, the reformist BNP leader said, "I am the Acting Secretary General. I will quit the post if Begum Zia so want after her release."

"We all will accept if Begum Zia decides to bring about changes at the top echelon of the party since she is our leader," he asserted.

Major Hafiz claimed that BNP has taken strong initiative to free the detained Chairperson. "We will free her through legal process," he said.