Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Secretary General of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), accused a shadowy group of orchestrating a deliberate campaign to defame the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, during a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on Monday.
The allegations come in the wake of the brutal murder of Lal Chand alias Sohag in Mitford, which Fakhrul claims is being exploited to destabilise Bangladesh’s political landscape ahead of national elections.
Fakhrul condemned the Mitford murder, demanding the immediate arrest and swift trial of those responsible.
He criticised law enforcement for failing to identify or apprehend the perpetrators, raising suspicions of a cover-up.
“BNP, as a conscientious party, demands strong condemnation and exemplary punishment for this heinous act,” he said, noting that the party expelled members named in police reports, despite no evidence of their direct involvement, to uphold discipline.
Fakhrul suggested the murder is being manipulated for political gain, possibly to disrupt the upcoming elections.
He pointed to a series of disturbing incidents, including murders in Muradnagar and Khulna, and an attack on a Chandpur mosque imam, questioning whether public outrage was equally vocal in those cases.
“The Mitford murder appears to be a tool to create an unstable environment,” he said, citing the open nature of the crime in broad daylight and the lack of resistance from nearby law enforcement.
He further alleged that pre-prepared propaganda, including photo cards spread online after Juma prayers on Friday, July 11, indicates a premeditated smear campaign against BNP and Tarique Rahman. “This orchestrated attack echoes the fascist tactics of the past, aiming to derail our democratic journey,” Fakhrul warned.
Emphasising BNP’s commitment to justice, Fakhrul pledged legal support for Lal Chand Sohag’s family. “His political identity is irrelevant, he was a citizen brutally killed. We stand united in demanding accountability,” he said, iterating the party’s call for a speedy trial and severe punishment.
Fakhrul accused detractors of exploiting the murder to revive fascist rhetoric, targeting BNP and its leadership.
“The youth who fought alongside us to topple fascism will not let conspirators divide our nation,” he declared. He urged democratic forces to resist attempts to undermine the July 2024 mass uprising’s legacy, vowing to protect Bangladesh’s sovereignty and democratic aspirations.
Present at the press conference were BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moin Khan, Salah Uddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, and Professor AZM Zahid Hossain.
