BNP got hijacked by Awami League: Hasnat Abdullah

National Citizen Party (NCP) leader and Cumilla-4 MP Hasnat Abdullah has alleged that the BNP has been "hijacked by the Awami League," claiming the party has strayed far from the ideals for which its leaders and activists endured years of repression and imprisonment.

"BNP has been hijacked by the Awami League. The party has moved far away from the dream for which BNP leaders and activists endured 17 years of imprisonment, repression and torture," said Hasnat while addressing an NCP joining programme at the July Mass Uprising Memorial Hall at Chattogram Press Club this afternoon (7 May), where he also described the country as going through a "state-level Kalbaishakhi storm."

"I express my sincere gratitude to those who are working with us and contributing despite this adverse environment," he said. He also claimed that BNP has moved away from the ideals of the July movement, alleging that the party has strayed from the aspirations and sacrifices associated with it.

"Many BNP leaders and activists come to us and express regret. They say they spent their lives, youth, money and labour for the party, but now they are disappointed," he said.

He added that many BNP activists still support the country's interests and should be organised. "We must organise them. We must go door to door and convey the stories of these oppressed leaders and activists to the people," he said.

Hasnat Abdullah further said that more BNP leaders and activists would join the NCP in the future and urged party workers to reach out to those who are yet to join.

On women's participation in politics, he said several female leaders in Chattogram had once been active in street movements but were later pushed back due to political realities. He stressed that "women's leadership must be reactivated again."

Highlighting Chattogram's political significance, he added that when the movement was on the verge of losing momentum, it was Chattogram that revived and spread it across the country.