BNP standing committee member, Professor Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, said BNP will always stand beside all the party members who were oppressed during the last government.
Dr AZM Zahid Hossain came up with the assertion during a meeting held with leaders and activists who were injured during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. He said the all divisions must be set aside, and the party must unite to work for the future.
The meeting took place at the Nawabganj upazila hallroom at 11:30am on Friday, organized by the BNP’s Nawabganj Upazila wing along with its allied organizations.
In his speech, Dr Zahid Hossain shared his personal experiences of the hardships faced while in prison. He described the harsh conditions in jail, describing how the food provided to prisoners, such as hard breads, was very difficult to eat. He also recalled that lunch was often a meal called ‘labra ghara,’ which he described as equally unpleasant.
He added that he spent 14 months under these conditions, but it was nothing compared to what the party leader, Khaleda Zia, endured, as she was imprisoned for six years. He also mentioned that BNP’s acting Chairman Tarique Rahman had his spine broken, he needed to take treatment abroad because of it. He further pointed out the tragic death of Arafat Rahman Koko, who passed away due to inadequate medical care while in custody.
Moslem Uddin, social welfare secretary of Nawabganj Jubo Dal, shared his personal experience of being in prison for almost nine years during the tenure of the previous government. He expressed that not only he but also many other leaders and activists from the area had faced similar persecution. He said this event, held for the injured leaders and activists, was an important occasion to honor their sacrifices.
The meeting was chaired by Tarikul Islam where various key figures, including Jahangir Alam, vice-president of BNP Rangpur division unit, Advocate Md Mofazzal Hossain, president of BNP Dinajpur district unit, Advocate Bakhtiar Ahmed Kochi, general secretary of BNP Dinjapur district unit; and Tarikul Islam, the acting president of BNP Nawabganj upazila unit. Financial assistance was distributed among 17 leaders and activists during the meeting, who were injured during Anti-Discrimination Student Movement.
