Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) leader Sarjis Alam on Sunday accused the ruling BNP of having struck an unwritten agreement with the ousted Awami League (AL) that is now allowing accused criminals linked to the July uprising violence to secure bail and walk free.

Speaking at a dialogue with July martyrs’ families and injured uprising participants organised by the 11-party opposition alliance at Institution of Diploma Engineers Bangladesh auditorium, Sarjis alleged that the deal was the reason behind the government’s decision to let key reform ordinances expire.

“The sad truth is that BNP came to power through Awami League votes. There was an unwritten agreement between them. Various Awami League leaders, even Sheikh Hasina from abroad, are now talking about this,” the NCP’s northern region chief coordinator said.

He alleged that as a result of this arrangement, many accused individuals who attacked July uprising participants and were responsible for killing protesters are now being released on bail.

“Those who threatened and attacked injured fighters across Dhaka and other places are now walking around with their chests puffed out in the same neighborhoods, telling our martyrs’ families and injured fighters, ‘Your time is almost over. We are back, let us see what you can do,'” he said.

Sarjis argued that the 20 ordinances the government allowed to lapse in parliament were more important than the 113 it approved.

“Before and after the uprising, Tarique Rahman and BNP’s persecuted leaders and workers demanded reforms to the very institutions that had oppressed them. They declared they wanted these institutions to function independently. But the moment they came to power, they wanted to run those same institutions their own way,” he said, citing the government’s decision to let ordinances on enforced disappearances, the Anti-Corruption Commission, the Human Rights Commission, and judicial independence expire.

Addressing the ruling party directly, he issued a pointed warning. “If you think you will bury the opposition and walk the path of parliamentary dictatorship, remember that your place in that grave will come first,” he said.

Sarjis urged martyrs’ families and injured uprising participants not to be divided by promises or inducements from the ruling party.

“Please do not let yourselves be fragmented in exchange for these offers and damage the collective aspiration. If that aspiration is harmed, Bangladesh is harmed. And if Bangladesh is harmed, you are part of Bangladesh and you will be harmed too,” he said.

He called on the families to remain loyal to the ideals for which their loved ones sacrificed their lives rather than aligning with any particular political party.

“We do not want to see you under any party’s banner. Stay on the side of the aspiration for which your family members gave their lives. If we speak for that cause, support us. If we speak against it, speak against us if you must,” he said.