All cases against AL will be withdrawn; we don't believe in politics of vengeance: Fakhrul
However, later in a press release, Fakhrul clarified that he was speaking about cases filed in Thakurgaon's Mohammadpur union only.
The BNP will not engage in politics of revenge and will withdraw all cases filed against Awami League leaders and activists if the BNP comes to power, the party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said today (11 November).
"We will not do politics of vengeance. We will not file cases the way the Awami League did. I promise that all cases against the Awami League will be withdrawn," Fakhrul was heard saying in videos of his speech at a views-exchange meeting organised by the Mohammadpur union BNP in Thakurgaon.
However, later in a press release, Fakhrul clarified that he was speaking about cases filed in Thakurgaon's Mohammadpur union only.
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"In my speech, I said we do not want to engage in politics of revenge. We do not want to file harassing cases like the Awami League. I also said in my remarks that if any harassing cases are filed in this union [Mohammadpur], we will withdraw them. But I did not make any statement about filing or withdrawing harassing cases across the country," he said in the statement.
In his speech, Fakhrul also recalled a comment by party's Chairperson Khaleda Zia, saying, "On 5 August last year, she said — 'We do not want revenge; we want peace, prosperity and a developed Bangladesh'. That is the path we want to follow."
"We want to practice politics of harmony and goodwill," he added.
He went on to address ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina directly, saying, "I want to tell Hasina that people cannot be suppressed by torture, persecution and intimidation. It didn't work in the past and it will not work in the future.
"Rather, she should immediately ask for forgiveness for the genocide and persecution."
