[Bangla Daily Star] BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday accused some newspapers of distorting his party chief's Sunday's remarks on the probable role of the army in tackling the country's political unrest. He said this might create confusion.The Daily Star yesterday checked the footage of Khaleda Zia
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's speech and found that the media had reported correctly, proving the BNP leader was wrongly blaming the media.
"The speeches [on army] that some newspapers published were not consistent with what the honourable opposition leader had said," Fakhrul told a presser at BNP's central office in the capital's Nayapaltan area.
On Sunday while addressing a roadside rally in Bogra, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia made some remarks on the army, including that the armed force would not play the role of "silent spectators when people are being killed" and that "it would play its role in due time".
Her comment drew huge flak from different quarters. Former army officers and noted citizens expressed surprise, saying that "it was tantamount to provocation".
In yesterday's presser, Mirza Fakhrul read out what the leader of the opposition had said at one of the Bogra rallies. He, however, did not mention a few other lines that sparked the criticism.
He read: "She [Khaleda] thanked the army for not opening fire when they were deployed in Shahjahanpur to restore peace and order. She also said that our army works for keeping peace abroad. If there is any disorder in the country, they will carry out their duties in due time. Our army is working in the United Nations
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' peacekeeping missions to establish peace abroad. If there is no peace in their own country, the foreigners would then say that the army is unable to maintain peace in their own country. It's time we thought about these matters."
"Apart from these, she said nothing else," Fakhrul claimed.
The BNP spokesperson then requested newsmen to "present the speeches, especially that of the opposition leader's, so that no confusion is created.
Fakhrul, however, did not mention the following lines:
"I would thank the army for not doing such thing [open fire] on the people. The army has also responsibilities towards the country and therefore, they would not play the role of silent spectators. They will not just watch them [the govt] kill people. So, the army will play its role in due time."
Newspapers and television channels focused prominently on the aforementioned remarks, including what Fakhrul told the presser yesterday.
Meanwhile,
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talking to BBC Bangla Service last night, Fakhrul said, "What she [Khaleda] wanted to say is that unrest is prevailing in the country and the government is killing people by shooting them. If situation goes on like this, the reputation of Bangladesh Army will be stained abroad."
Asked what role the army can play given the present situation, he said it had not been mentioned [in Khaleda's speech at Matidali, Bogra]. Such situation will not bring any good or reputation for the army.
"And there is no option to explain this in any other way. But one or two news media, who always distort BNP chairperson's speech, gave different explanation [of her speech]," alleged Fakhrul.
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