Press Release  

13 September 2024  

SM Zilani, President of the Central Committee of the Jatiyatabadi Swecchasebak Dal, has long been unable to visit his home village in Patgati, under Kotalipara police station in Gopalganj district, due to fears of attacks by Awami terrorists. Today, after the fall of the Awami regime, while on his way to Tungipara, Awami miscreants launched a reckless attack on SM Zilani’s motorcade in the Gunapara area of Gopalganj Sadar Police Station. During the attack, Swecchasebak Dal's Central Committee Sports Secretary Mohammad Shawkat Ali Didar was killed, while SM Zilani, his wife Roshan Ara Ratna (President of the Gopalganj District Mohila Dal), and their two sons, along with other leaders and activists in the motorcade, were brutally assaulted, leaving many seriously injured. The attackers also carried out extensive vandalism and looting on the vehicles in the motorcade.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressed deep concern over this heinous and cowardly incident and issued a statement condemning the violent actions of the Awami terrorists.

In his statement, the BNP Secretary General said, "Although the fall of the Awami fascist government came through a student and people's movement, some accomplices of the defeated forces are still conspiring to create chaos in the country. These conspirators, who amassed large sums of black money during the illegal Awami rule, are now using that money for terrorist activities. Unable to accept the historic victory of the student and people's movement, they are determined to destabilize the country. This is why they are launching brutal attacks on leaders and activists of the BNP and other like-minded democratic political parties, killing and seriously injuring them. The barbaric attack on SM Zilani’s motorcade today in Gopalganj, which resulted in the murder of  Central Sports Secretary of Swecchasebak Dal Mohammad Shawkat Ali Didar and the injury of many leaders and activists, is evidence of a deep domestic and international conspiracy. There is no alternative but to suppress these terrorists with a firm hand. The student and people’s movement, along with all democracy-loving citizens, must continue united resistance against these evil forces. Only then will it be possible to eradicate the conspirators and miscreants from the country and ensure the safety of the people, as well as the establishment of true democracy and good governance."

In the statement, the BNP Secretary General called for the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible for the barbaric attack on SM Zilani’s motorcade, which resulted in the murder of Mohammad Shawkat Ali Didar and the assault on SM Zilani, his wife, and other leaders. He also prayed for the forgiveness of the departed soul of the deceased, expressed his condolences to the bereaved family, and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

Message Sender 

(Muhammad Munir Hossain)  

Assistant Office Secretary  

Bangladesh Nationalist Party - BNP