Anti-independence forces created ill-mannered figures like Nasiruddin Patwary: Anee

Water Resources Minister and Lakshmipur-3 MP Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee has said that anti-independence forces are responsible for creating "ill-mannered" figures like Nasiruddin Patwary.

He also alleged that the National Citizen Party (NCP) and Jamaat-e-Islami's student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, had divided the country's politics and undermined the unity forged against authoritarianism.

Anee made the remarks while presiding over a rally organised by the Lakshmipur district unit of the BNP on Tuesday afternoon at the N Ahmedia Government Primary School ground in the district town to mark the July Uprising.

He said, "Those who stood against Bangladesh during the Liberation War are the same people who created ill-mannered individuals like Nasiruddin Patwary. Today, they are trying to establish a culture of disrespect in the country."

The minister further claimed that Jamaat and Chhatra Shibir were the only real opposition forces in Bangladesh, adding that the newly formed National Citizen Party had effectively merged with the Jamaat-Shibir alliance.

Anee also accused political opponents of deliberately using offensive language against BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman.

He said the BNP was a liberal democratic party where abusive or indecent political rhetoric had no place, adding that Tarique Rahman regularly took organisational action against anyone who violated party discipline.

He further claimed that since 5 August, the NCP had not only divided the spirit of the July movement but had also contributed to broader political divisions in the country.

"They were absent throughout the 17 years of political struggle," he said. "They are essentially 'post-5 August July fighters'."