BNP Joint Secretary General and Narsingdi-1 (Sadar) MP Khairul Kabir Khokon has alleged that the Awami League and a group exploiting religion are conspiring together to destabilise the country once again.

He claimed that followers of the banned organisation, along with groups exploiting religious sentiments, were working jointly with the backing of a neighbouring country to create instability in Bangladesh.

Khokon made the remarks on Monday (November 2) while speaking as the chief guest at an exchange meeting with students of Narsingdi Textile Engineering College. The event was held after releasing fish fingerlings into the college pond and planting trees.

He said the Awami League government, which remained in power for 17 years, had brought the country to the brink of destruction through injustice, repression, killings, enforced disappearances and widespread corruption and looting. Many people had lost their lives while protesting against the government, he added.

Referring to the July-August mass uprising, Khokon said nearly 2,000 people, including Abu Sayed, Wasim Akram and Tamim, were killed during the anti-discrimination student movement. He claimed that 422 of those killed belonged to the BNP family.

He further claimed that around 30,000 people were injured or permanently disabled during the movement, while many others lost their eyesight.

The BNP leader said the Awami League had been banned during the tenure of the interim government over allegations of genocide and crimes against humanity.

He also alleged that followers of the banned organisation and groups that had misled people by exploiting religion and promising tickets to paradise were working together to create instability in the country and take advantage of the situation.

The programme was chaired by Bangladesh Handloom Board Chairman Md. Zakir Hossain.

Among those present were Narsingdi City BNP President AKM Golam Kabir Kamal, General Secretary Faruk Uddin Bhuiyan, Robiul Islam Rabi, Mohsin Hossain Bidyut, Aminul Haque Bacchu and Chhatra Dal President Siddiqur Rahman Nahid, among others.