BNP alleges attempt to tarnish party image over rape in Cumilla

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today (29 June) alleged that there was a sinister attempt to tarnish their party's image by falsely blaming it for the rape of a woman though she was raped by an Awami League leader in Muradnagar, Cumilla.

"For 15 years, the Awami League carried out a smear campaign against the Zia family, and now they are secretly spending money to continue that propaganda in order to tarnish BNP's image. A clear example of this is the recent incident in Muradnagar," he said.

Speaking at a press briefing at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office, Rizvi said an Awami League leader committed the heinous act at a house in Muradnagar.

"It's so disgraceful that I feel ashamed of even uttering it. Yet they tried to shift the blame onto us. Similar incidents are being orchestrated in other places as well," he said.

Though Sheikh Hasina fled the country, the BNP leader said, her accomplices still remain in the administration, across various sectors and at the grassroots level throughout the country.

"The associates of Awami League are still present in various places, including in the administration, and they have huge amounts of money at their disposal. They are using this money to continue their efforts to smear political parties that support democracy and the current government. I believe the incident in Muradnagar of Cumilla is a reflection of such evil efforts," he observed.

Rizvi also said the deposed Awami League and its associates are trying in various ways to destabilise Bangladesh. "The incidents of push-in through the borders are part of their scheme. They do not want the people of Bangladesh, democratic political parties, or the government to remain in a stable condition."

He said the Awami League and its associates have built a network, and it is the government's responsibility to dismantle it.

Rizvi said BNP and other democratic political parties have long been demanding the arrest and prosecution of Awami League's accomplices who are still lurking in the administration and other places. "But due to the slow pace and inaction, they are now getting involved in such a heinous crime (rape) — and even daring to shift the blame onto others," he said.

The BNP leader demanded exemplary punishment for those involved in the Muradnagar incident, so that people can see the government is acting properly and fulfilling its duty.

Earlier on Friday (27 June), a case was filed with Muradnagar Police Station as a man raped a woman at knifepoint in Ramchandrapur Panchkitta village in the upazila, where she had gone to visit her father's house about two weeks ago.

The main accused, Fazor Ali, 36, and four others were arrested in connection with the rape case.