By Mir Afroz Zaman, POBNEWS24, Dhaka, July 31, 2023 : There is a multi-faceted discussion within the party regarding the two leaders of the opposition BNP in Bangladesh – Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Dhaka Metropolitan North convener Aman Ullah Aman who were injured.
The Prime Minister’s sending of food and fruits to Aman Ullah Aman after he was injured and admitted to hospital on Saturday and ‘entertaining’ Gayeshwar Chandra Roy at the DB office after he was injured by the police baton has sparked a lot of discussion not only within the party but across the country.
In particular, the Prime Minister’s representative went to the hospital through social media. The video of talking to Aman and the video of Gayeshwar Chandra Roy’s lunch at the DB office created a storm of discussion on social media. Soon after the incident, Awami League supporters began to widely share the two videos, demanding exposure of the ‘humanitarian view of the Prime Minister’ on both issues.
On the other hand, BNP supporters have strongly criticized the publication and dissemination of such videos.
There is almost no precedent for such behavior of the government, administration or police with the leaders and activists of opposition political parties in Bangladesh.
Many BNP supporters claimed that “the government has done this systematically” to create confusion among party leaders and supporters.
Again, many expressed discomfort with the incident. The two incidents also received wide publicity in the media of Bangladesh.
However, both Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Aman Ullah Aman later gave their statements explaining the situation.
Mr. Roy alleged that he was severely beaten by the police at Dholaikhal before being taken to the DB office.
On the other hand, Aman Ullah Aman said that the government had staged a drama while he was undergoing treatment.
That happened on Saturday
During the position program on Saturday. Mr. Roy was staying at Dholaikhal.
A video of that time shows him standing on the street with a group of activists.
At that time, party workers and policemen were throwing pieces of brick at each other and at one point Mr. Roy’s head was bloody. Later the policemen surrounded them and beat them severely.
Mr. Ray was seen hitting a policeman with a baton when he fell on the road.
Mr Roy. Police was picked up from there and taken to the DB office after receiving first aid at the hospital. Later, pictures of him attending a lunch with the DB chief went viral.
After that, the police left him at the party office in Nayapaltan.
Mr. Roy. there alleged that he was severely beaten from the waist down by the government.
On the other hand, Aman Ullah Aman was in Gabtali area. He collapsed on the road when the police arrested him.
From there, the police took him to the hospital. Later, a representative of the Prime Minister took flowers and food to that hospital.
In a video of that time, Mr. with the representative of the Prime Minister. Aman is also seen talking. Later, while going from that hospital to another hospital, Mr. Aman.
Reaction to BNP
Both incidents spread through social media, which made many BNP members uncomfortable.
However, after a while, BNP supporters started giving statements or posts in support of the two leaders and criticizing the government about the incident.
However, the top leaders of BNP also came under question due to various discussions about the incident.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir took a strong stand for the two leaders in response to the related questions at the party’s press conference on Saturday afternoon.
Mr. Alamgir said that the government has arranged this kind of drama to protect itself and to prove its innocence.
“Many have been arrested before. Tortured with the DB office. Around 450 leaders were arrested. Then they were not fed delicious mangoes. Now being fed to escape the US visa police.
In other words, the BNP Secretary General claimed that the visa policy announced by the United States in view of the Bangladesh elections is the reason for honoring the two leaders of BNP.
BNP has been agitating for the government’s resignation for a long time.
Other party leaders also say they believe the two ailing leaders have been “secretly promoted with flowers and food in videos” to create confusion.
Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, joint secretary general of the party, was telling this correspondent, “It may have caused temporary discomfort among many people. But now everyone understands that the government is doing these dramas to humiliate the two leaders and create confusion in the party.”
According to him, it is clear from the secret video that the government did it for ‘vain purpose’.
“They were killed and wounded and then secretly videoed with food in front of them. Outsiders didn’t make videos in the DB office. Who propagated them again? Even the government.
So there is no confusion in BNP. Leaders and activists at all levels understand that this government can do any crime and immoral act to stay in power,” said Mr. Alal
However, regarding taking Gayeshwar Chandra Roy to the DB office, DB Chief Harun Or Rashid said Mr. Roy when Dholaikhale fell down on the road, the police brought him to the DB office in a car. “We saved him,” he told reporters.
UNI spoke to several BNP leaders outside Dhaka and Dhaka about the two incidents.
One said both leaders were victims of the incident, but if they had been more forthright with the media, there might not have been any discomfort.
“Both the leaders are party stalwarts and old leaders. There is no room for discomfort with them. But they needed to understand that the police and the government could do any nefarious act,” said a mid-level leader of the party in Dhaka.
A leader from the northern region who came from outside Dhaka to attend Saturday’s mass meeting told the UNI, “It was not right to sit at the table with the police and government party leaders. Because in any way they want to create crisis in BNP.”
However, regardless of the opinion of the activists, senior leaders say that there is no confusion about this within the party.
Because they think it is clear in the video that the two leaders had no control over the situation. The situation of expressing their will or unwillingness was not there.
