Dhaka, Dec 20 (V7N) — The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has described the unrest that followed the death of Inquilab Mancha spokesperson Sharif Osman Hadi as a deliberate conspiracy to derail the upcoming national election and has called for nationwide unity to resist what it termed an anti-democratic plot.

The BNP outlined its position at a press conference held on Friday night, December 19, at the party’s Gulshan office, following an emergency meeting of its standing committee to review the prevailing situation.

Speaking at the press conference, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said a long-identified group was attempting to push the country toward planned chaos in order to undermine democratic rights achieved through great sacrifice. He alleged that efforts were underway, in full view of the authorities, to destroy voting rights and establish a new form of fascism in the country.

Mirza Fakhrul said public perception was that the government’s response to the situation had been inadequate, warning that the unfolding events were damaging both the government’s image and the country’s reputation at home and abroad.

Referring to the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi, he said the BNP viewed such attacks as part of a broader conspiracy to create uncertainty around the national election and the process of democratic transition. He warned those responsible that the people of Bangladesh would not allow the country to be destroyed after so much bloodshed and sacrifice.

He called for unity among all political and social forces opposed to disorder, stressing that there was no alternative to collective resistance against what he described as destructive elements. Drawing parallels with past movements that led to the fall of authoritarian rule and the establishment of an interim government and elections, he urged all patriotic forces to unite once again.

Mirza Fakhrul also highlighted incidents of violence that followed Hadi’s death, alleging that groups of unruly individuals set fire to the offices of several newspapers, including Prothom Alo and the English-language daily The Daily Star, late Thursday night. He said the attacks endangered the lives of working journalists.

He further claimed that Nurul Kabir, editor of New Age and president of the Editors’ Council, was attacked, and that cultural institutions, including Chhayanaut, were also targeted. The BNP strongly condemned these incidents, describing them as disgraceful acts of violence.

The party termed the killing of Sharif Osman Hadi a cowardly act and demanded the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible.

The emergency standing committee meeting was presided over by BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

END/AJ/SMA/