BNP senior leader Moudud Ahmed has warned that the government will have to face a strong student movement if it does not stop repressing those involved in quota-reform movement.
“The quota-reform movement has no link to any political party. But the government has showed its intolerant attitude by repressing Rashed, Nuru, Sohel, Tariqul and others who were leading the movement,” he said at a discussion on Saturday.
The BNP Standing Committee member further said: “I would like to tell the government to stop arresting the demonstrators and release those who were arrested. Stop the repression immediately. Or else, the students will wage a stronger movement, and the people will join hands with them.”
The Zia Adarsha Academy had organized the program at the National Press Club, in order to demand that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia be released from jail and granted proper medical treatment, reports UNB.
Moudud claimed the government was citing a High Court verdict regarding the freedom fighters’ quota as an excuse, as it is not willing to reform the quota system despite the prime minister’s commitment to do so.
“People are not fools, they understand that the High Court verdict cannot be any obstacle to reforming the quota system. If there is any verdict, the government should take steps to review it so that the prime minister’s pledge can be kept by reforming the quota,” he said.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told parliament that there was a High Court verdict that was stopping the freedom fighters’ quota from being abolished.
Moudud further said it would not be possible to oust the current “fascist and autocratic regime” through regular movements. “The only way to unseat them is by forging national unity.”
