BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today reiterated that the party would stand by Awami League supporters who have not been involved in wrongdoing.

Fakhrul made the remark while addressing an election rally at Molani Bazar in his constituency, Thakurgaon-1.

He said this time there is no “boat” symbol. “The boat has ‘fled’ and Hasina has fled to India, leaving her supporters in trouble. We are standing by those supporters in their time of distress,” he said.“We are telling our Hindu brothers and sisters not to worry -- we are with you. Only those with a record of wrongdoing will be punished. Those who have done nothing wrong -- the ordinary citizens -- we will protect them.”

Referring to the BNP’s call for resistance during the 2014 election, he said people of the Chheprikuri area suffered immensely due to a case over the killing of a presiding officer.

“You had to stay in paddy fields night after night, day after day, in severe cold. There were numerous complications,” he said, adding that the matter was later resolved through court proceedings.

He said, “If, by the grace of Allah, the election is held properly and we are able to cast our votes freely and elect a government, we hope that we will be better off.

“We will work to improve the family card and agriculture card systems, ensure quality education for children, guarantee healthcare services, provide medicines at affordable prices, and strengthen the police department. Above all, we will try to bring peace to the country.”

Referring to his age, he said this would be his last election and appealed for a final support.

He said, “Today, when I opened the newspaper, I saw that the party which formed the government with us in 2001 and had two ministers is now saying we were corrupt at that time. If that is so, were you as righteous as Yudhishthir? You were also in the government; the responsibility falls on your shoulders as well.”

Rejecting allegations of corruption, he said the BNP had helped move the country forward during that period. At the time, around 1.5 million women were employed in the garment sector, and free education for girls up to the HSC level had been introduced, enabling many to pursue higher education.