BNP on Monday formed an investigation team to probe the recent murder of a scrap trader in Old Dhaka, expressing concerns that the incident could be exploited for political motives and to destabilise the election environment.
“There are reasons to suspect that this murder is being used for political gain and that such an incident is being used as an excuse at the instigation of certain quarters to disrupt the atmosphere of the upcoming national elections,” said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he also said there are many reasons to believe that the Mitford murder is being deliberately used to create unrest in the country and to implement evil political motives.
“To dig out the facts behind this brutal murder, we have decided to form an investigation and fact-finding committee comprising appropriate persons, who will reveal the actual facts and make them public,” Fakhrul said.
He said they have arranged the press conference in response to a recent tragic and unexpected incident, particularly due to a deliberate attempt to distort the narrative and unjustly use it as part of a malicious campaign to tarnish the image of the country’s largest political party and its top leader, Tarique Rahman, and to register the party’s strong protest.
As a responsible political party, Fakhrul said the BNP has already strongly condemned and protested the killing of Lal Chand Sohag, who was beaten to death in the Mitford area of Dhaka, and has demanded exemplary punishment for those involved.
He said despite the absence of any evidence proving direct involvement or presence at the scene, the party has taken the highest organisational action—lifetime expulsion—against those named in the police complaint, in line with party discipline.
The BNP leader said the victim’s family has already raised concerns about inconsistencies in the case statement.
According to the family, he said, the names of three people were included in the report in place of the actual perpetrators, even though they have no complaints against those named.
Regrettably, Fakhrul said, the real culprits directly involved in the brutal killing have not yet been identified, let alone arrested, and the law enforcement agencies have so far failed to reveal their names or identities.
He said the BNP has earlier called on the current government to arrest those directly involved in the murder and to ensure swift justice.“Despite such a firm party position, a certain vested quarter is systematically showing the audacity to defame the party and malign its top leadership by attacking their character,” Fakhrul said.
Lal Chand Sohag, a trader from Old Dhaka, was brutally killed in broad daylight near Mitford Hospital on Wednesday, reportedly over a dispute related to the scrap trade.
He expressed their party’s firm resolve to identify and resist those who are trying to destabilise the political environment, obstruct the national election, and indirectly create a path for the rise of fascism.
Fakhrul said that despite the presence of a large number of people and law enforcement agencies nearby, the lack of any resistance has raised questions in the public mind about the incident.
He alleged that the events of 9 July were deliberately spread online on 11 July during ‘prime time’ after Juma prayers on Friday.
After that, the BNP leader alleged that certain social media accounts and pages began sharing pre-prepared photo cards in a coordinated manner. “This suggests that propaganda materials had been prepared in advance, indicating a planned campaign to spread false information online.”
Fakhrul also expressed frustration over the government’s indifference in preventing dirty politics.
He said they hope all responsible political parties will be aware of the grave consequences of the current deteriorating political situation.
The BNP leader warned that if undemocratic and unethical behaviour continues to hinder the path toward democracy, those responsible must be held accountable.
Expressing BNP’s strong stance against offenders, Fakhrul stated that there can be no sympathy or bias when it comes to criminals.
Fakhrul said a criminal should not be identified by any party affiliation and that an individual's crime has no connection with the party.
The BNP leader said Sohag’s political identity is irrelevant—he was a citizen, tragically taken by terrorism. “We too demand exemplary punishment,” Fakhrul said.
He said such a brutal killing of Sohag, carried out in broad daylight by only a few criminals, could be seen as a deliberate attempt to destroy the rule of law, standing in complete contrast to the spirit of the mass uprising of July, just a year ago.
The BNP Secretary General affirmed that there was no question of stepping back from their commitment to stand by the victim’s family and to provide them with legal support.
Fakhrul alleges conspiracy to eliminate Tarique from politics
Instead of appreciating the bold step of removing individuals from party positions based solely on allegations, he said there has been a deliberate attempt to malign the image of BNP and its Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.
Such activities, the BNP leader warned, cast doubt on the country’s democratic journey.
Fakhrul also questioned whether the use of vulgar language and protest rallies against the BNP—despite the party not being in power—signals a return to an era of fascist politics, undermining the country's political culture.
He strongly condemned and protested against the use of obscene and indecent remarks made publicly against Tarique Rahman.
The BNP leader said instead of reflecting the people’s desire for a healthy political culture, such orchestrated smear campaigns and vulgar slogans only echo the voice of fascist Hasina and the Awami League.
He also questioned whether there was an equally strong outcry over the recent killing of a Jubo Dal leader in Khulna and other cruel incidents.
Fakhrul said the masks of those conspiring to divide a nation united with the promise of re-establishing democracy in the country have now been exposed.
He said Bangladesh must not be allowed to fail because of the desperate efforts of a few political conspirators. “The youth, who once stood as the vanguard in the fight against fascism, must now once again join forces to defend the country’s freedom and sovereignty.”
The BNP leader stressed that no conspiracy in a united Bangladesh would be able to obstruct their goals.
He emphasised the need to avoid falling into any trap intended to provoke conflict and called for the rejection of all attempts to destroy national unity against fascism.
Fakhrul demands quick probe into recent killings in Old Dhaka
Reassuring their party’s unwavering commitment, Fakhrul said they remained determined, as always, to establish genuine democracy in the country through the united efforts of all democratic forces.
He said the BNP’s only priority is to restore the ownership of Bangladesh to its people, overcoming every obstacle with the help of the masses. “There is no room for our hard-earned success in the past 17 years of long struggle to be thwarted.”
BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Hafizuddin Ahmed, and Professor AZM Zahid Hossain were present.