BNP emerges as new occupational force: Hasan

Information and Broadcasting Minister and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud has said BNP has emerged as the new occupational force in the country.

The information minister came up with the remark after placing wreaths along with Awami League (AL) leaders on the portrait of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in the city's Dhanmondi-32 on Saturday.

“Pakistani occupation forces killed unarmed innocent Bangalees. BNP has also emerged as the new occupational force. They along with the Jamaat killed innocent people through arson attacks and are taking people hostage,” he said.

Dr Hasan said Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman had declared the independence of Bangladesh on March 25 from here and led the nation to the struggle of freedom.

He said Bangabandhu had a dream of building a developed country. But he along with most of his family members was killed brutally just after three and a half years of the independence, he added.

The minister said Bangladesh is now marching ahead indomitably to materialise the dream of Bangabandhu under the supervision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Later, the minister inaugurated a victory rally at Jatiya Press Club (JPC) organised by Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ).

In the inaugural speech, Dr Hasan urged the journalists to hold pen against BNP's arson attacks.

The minister said as many as 32 journalists sustained injuries in BNP attacks on October 28. Out of them, more than 20 reporters were working in the BNP beat for long, he said.