‘Forge unity to establish democracy and end border killings’

Labour Party Convention against aggression

Opposition Political Leaders at a meeting in Dhaka on Friday called for a broad political unity to establish democracy and face border killings and other activities that undermine independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh.

Speaking at a function organized to mark the 11th anniversary of the killing minor Bangladeshi girl Felany at the border and hanging her body on a barbed wire border fence, they said the border killings that cost the life of 1460 Bangladeshis in a decade was aggression and symbolised the violation of human rights. 

Organised by the Bangladesh Labour Party the meeting was addressed by BNP’s central leader and former minister Major (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed as the chief guest and Jatiya Party chairman and former minister Mostafa Jamal Haider as the keynote speaker with Labour Party chairman Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Iran in the chair.

The absence of strong protest against the killings is among the many symptoms of making the country look like a vassal state. The people fought the War of Liberation for democracy but now the people cannot cast their votes in elections with which they are familiar since 1936. Attempts have been made to monopolise the war waged and fought by the people. The independent country has become full of foreign agents. This cannot continue as the people’s patience has exhausted, he said.

Mostafa Jamal Haider said people often forget from where the inspiration came to cast ballot on the night before the date of election. Movement against autocracy and aggression is one and indivisible, he said urging people’s unity to restore democracy and the rights of the people.

Dr. Mostafizur Rahman Iran said that killing of Felani and hanging her body with barbed wire border fence had no parallel in history. He said when Bangladesh was experiencing border killings, intrusion into land, air and sea spaces of Bangladesh ‘some collaborators’ say they won’t allow turning the country into Pakistan.   

The meeting was also addressed by Labour Party secretary general Faruque Rahman, Bnagladesh Christian Association president Albert D’Costa, BNP’s front leader Arana Roy Das, Desh Bachao Andolan leader KM Rafiqul Islam, Freedom Fighter Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury Milon and Dainik Sarkar editor Moulana Obaidul Huq among others.   – News Desk