The BNP Standing Committee has strongly condemned the attack on a rally of the National Citizen Party (NCP) in Gopalganj, saying criminals and supporters of the fascist Awami League carried out the attack to disrupt the democratic process.

The party also hoped that political parties will determine their programmes very carefully in the coming days, said a press release issued on Thursday by the party on the outcome of its Standing Committee meeting held on Wednesday night.

“The meeting believes that the supporters of the fallen fascist Hasina attacked the rally of the National Citizen Party, which played a significant role in the anti-fascist movement, in a planned way to disrupt the democratic process,” the release said.

The BNP Standing Committee meeting was held at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office and was virtually presided over by party’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

The attack, which took place following the NCP rally on Wednesday, left four people dead and many others injured.

In the meeting, BNP policymakers expressed deep shock and anger over the casualties in the attack, which later forced the government to enforce a curfew in the area.

The BNP Standing Committee said they consider the attack as part of a blueprint to disturb the democratic process.

The BNP leaders also criticised the government for what they called its failure to maintain the law-and-order situation in this regard.

They warned that if political programmes are not conducted with caution, it may give an opportunity to anti-democratic forces to make political gains.

The BNP Standing Committee alleged that a certain quarter is systematically deteriorating the law and order situation in the country to obstruct the path to democracy and disrupt the promised national election in February.

The BNP policymakers observed that criminal activities like mobocracy, murder, kidnapping, robbery and extortion are on the rise.

The incompetence and indifference of the concerned departments of the government are making the situation worse. The responsible advisors are only speaking in the media but are failing to take effective steps, they said.

The meeting called upon the government to take all necessary steps to improve the law-and-order situation.

The meeting also condemned what it described as ‘unjust and indecent’ remarks made by some political parties unfairly linking BNP to the recent brutal murder of a trader, Lal Chand Shohag, in Old Dhaka.

The BNP policymakers said offensive, indecent and disrespectful remarks and slogans targetting party founder Ziaur Rahman, Chairperson Khaleda Zia, and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman have shocked the nation and caused public outrage. “The meeting strongly condemns and expresses its anger over all these actions.”

They said such behaviour would not only harm the political environment but also derail the path to democracy and the upcoming parliamentary election process.

The BNP policymakers hoped that all political parties would give importance to mutual respect and harmony and refrain from such non-political activities.

At the same time, they strongly condemned and expressed anger over the killings that have taken place in various parts of the country, including near Mitford Hospital, and urged the government to immediately arrest those responsible and bring them to justice.