BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday alleged that a powerful group is plotting nationwide unrest centring on today’s verdict against deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, warning that the country is already gripped by fear and uncertainty.

Addressing a programme at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital, marking the 49th death anniversary of Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, he also urged all political parties to unite against any attempt to thwart the democratic transition, and work collectively towards the upcoming general election.
“A verdict will be announced tomorrow (Monday) against fascist Hasina in a case over her involvement in crimes against humanity. Meanwhile, tension prevails in the country, centring on the verdict as an organised group is plan-ning to destabilise the country,” Fakhrul said.

He called upon people from all walks of life to seize the opportunity created through the July uprising for a smooth democratic transition. “Let us move forward collectively with a vow to restore democracy in the country through the upcoming general election, upholding the patriotic legacy of Maulana Bhashani,” he said.
The BNP leader said a confusing and unstable situation prevails across the country, plunging it into an acute crisis ahead of the anticipated national elec-tion in early February next year.
“We had fought against the fascist regime for 16 years. Many leaders were killed, injured, or falsely implicated in politically motivated cases, yet we have failed to fully realise their expectations,” he said.
Despite the uncertainty, Fakhrul said a path has been paved for the 13th par-liamentary election, but certain quarters are plotting to delay or hinder it for narrow political interests.
He emphasised the urgency of an elected government, warning that the country’s socio-economic situation is deteriorating and could worsen sharp-ly without proper governance. “Law and order is also heading towards a crisis due to the inaction of law enforcement agencies,” he added.
Regarding the interim administration, led by Prof Muhammad Yunus, the BNP secretary general noted that while it assumed office with cross-party support and aimed to reshape the country, enough time has not passed to make a final assessment of its performance. 
Later, in a post on his Facebook page, Fakhrul demanded a fair and transpar-ent judgement against Hasina for her alleged role in crimes against humanity.
He said the International Crimes Tribunal is scheduled to deliver the verdict against Hasina and two others today. “Five charges of crimes against humanity have been brought in connection with the deadly violence and repression that took place in Dhaka last year. A fair and impartial judgement must be en-sured,” he said.