Bangladesh BNP holds torchlight march to protest remarks targeting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman

A torch procession led by Dhaka-6 lawmaker and state minister for liberation war affairs Ishraque Hossain was held Friday to protest what he called slander against senior political leaders, including Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

The procession began at Malitola Park and ended in Nayapaltan after passing through major roads in the capital.

Hossain said the demonstration was intended to warn those making “ugly, indecent” remarks about Rahman and other politicians. He said Bangladesh Nationalist Party supporters would continue protesting if such comments persisted.

“We applaud any democratic program,” Hossain said, referring to a newly formed political party whose members also serve in Parliament. He said cordial political relations should be preserved because their collapse would benefit supporters of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Hossain and Rahman’s party were protesting remarks by opposition leader Nasiruddin Patwary.

Patwary, a leader of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has slammed Rahman and his government for silence amid political violence in Bangladesh. He also said Rahman has failed as a leader.

“Over the past six months, Tarique Rahman has proved that he failed the test of running the country,” Patwary said. “Since he failed, he should not be given a second chance.”

Bangladesh’s constitution guarantees, “freedom of thought and conscience, and of speech.” It also guarantees, “the right of every citizen to freedom of speech and expression.”