‘BNP government favouring Awami League, sabotage measures mere eyewash’: 11-party alliance

The 11-party alliance has accused the BNP-led government of favouring the Awami League and taking only “eyewash” measures against recent acts of sabotage, alleging that its failure to curb violence is emboldening supporters of the former ruling party.

“The government has not taken effective measures to stop recent sabotage, including bomb attacks, arson and cocktail explosions. Whatever steps it has taken were all eyewash,” alliance coordinator A H M Hamidur Rahman Azad said on Sunday.

“As a result, the fascists and their collaborators are being encouraged,” he added.

Azad, also an assistant secretary general of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, made the remarks at a press briefing following an emergency meeting of the alliance’s liaison committee at Jamaat’s central office in Dhaka’s Moghbazar.

He alleged that the government was showing undue favour towards the Awami League and its associates, questioning its response to recent violence, including deadly bus arson attacks.

Azad suggested that the government’s approach might reflect an understanding reached with the Awami League during the elections, although he offered no evidence to substantiate the allegation.

He demanded that the government acknowledge its failure to maintain law and order, explain its position in parliament and take stringent action against those responsible for violence, regardless of political affiliation.

The alliance leader also criticised what he described as delays in trials over the killings during the July 2024 uprising and alleged that convicted prisoners were receiving preferential treatment.

“Those convicted and sentenced are being treated like pampered sons-in-law in prison,” he said.

Azad further accused the government of retreating from its reform commitments by failing to implement the referendum verdict and establish a reform council.

He alleged that the government had reversed reform initiatives undertaken during the interim administration, warning that disregarding the referendum verdict would deepen the country’s political and constitutional crisis.

“The implementation of the people’s verdict in the referendum is the government’s political and democratic responsibility,” he said.

Conditions for national unity

Responding to the government’s call for national unity, Azad said political cooperation required shared principles, commitments and concrete action rather than statements alone.

He identified six priorities as the basis for national unity: implementation of the referendum verdict, formation of a reform council, justice for the July killings, protection of lives and property, strengthening democracy and preventing the resurgence of what he described as fascist tendencies.

Azad said the alliance was prepared to respond positively to a broader national unity initiative if the government demonstrated sincerity through effective action on these issues.

He warned that attempting to resolve the political and constitutional crisis through amendments without implementing the referendum verdict and forming a reform council would not provide a lasting solution.

The alliance would continue its movement for seven demands through peaceful and democratic means, he added.

Azad also dismissed suggestions of divisions within the alliance, saying its unity remained intact.

At the briefing, he confirmed that the alliance had postponed its scheduled November 21 long march towards Sylhet, citing poor road conditions and logistical difficulties in arranging railway transport.

Representatives of alliance partners, including NCP Joint Convener Ariful Islam Adeeb, were present at the briefing.