Govt lost its balance out of fear of Tarique Rahman: Patwary
Referring to the demands raised by the Inqilab Mancha, Patwary said those demands were not 'irrational'
The interim government has "lost its balance" out of fear of BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, said National Citizen Party (NCP) leader Nasiruddin Patwary today (7 February).
"Out of fear of Tarique Rahman, the government has lost its balance. That is why it is attacking here and sometimes there. I would tell Dr Yunus not to be afraid. You left for London out of fear and made a deal there," said Patwary, who is also a candidate for the Dhaka-8 constituency from the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance in the upcoming national election.
He made the remarks while addressing the "Rally for Bangladesh" at the Central Shaheed Minar, organised by July Oikya, a platform formed by various organisations that emerged from the 2024 mass uprising.
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After the rally, participants marched from the Shaheed Minar towards Shahbagh as part of the programme.
Referring to the demands raised by the Inqilab Mancha, Patwary said those demands were not "irrational."
However, he alleged that despite seeking updates from the government for a week, the platform received no response.
"The government continued its previous practice of pretending not to see and not to hear. Apart from a token funeral prayer, the government did nothing," he said.
Commenting on clashes involving police and leaders and activists of Inqilab Mancha yesterday, he claimed that around 30 people were seriously injured.
"Despite this, police again brutally fired sound grenades," he alleged, adding that a section within the government was "trying to sabotage" the election.
He demanded an investigation into the incidents.
Patwary further alleged that attempts were underway to turn the election into a "selection" process.
"By mobilising Chhatra Dal in front of the Election Commission, efforts are being made to engineer a selection in the name of an election. Tarique Rahman is being brought through selection," he claimed.
