BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called upon the countrymen to stay calm, saying that the cohorts of the ousted autocratic regime are engaged in hatching conspiracy from behind to destabilise the country once again.

"Today, many people become a bit worried witnessing the incidents happening all around. What is happening? We have to understand our enemies, ousted earlier, are hatching efforts from behind to create an unstable situation in the country," he said.

Fakhrul strongly criticised those who are instigating evil attempts to destroy the freedom of press and expression.

Fakhrul said, "It is unfortunate that a dangerous phenomenon of launching attack on newspapers and freedom of expression have begun for which we have always struggled and fought. After Begum Khaleda Zia came to power in 2001, she championed press freedom. Today, however, certain groups are deliberately undermining it."

The BNP secretary general urged all, who are making such attempts, to get rid of this "suicidal path" nd extend cooperation to the government to give democracy an institutional shape.

He said the country` media enjoyed the highest level of freedom during the tenure of BNP from 2001-2006.

Speaking at a publication ceremony of a book titled "Tarique Rahman: Politics and Policies Contemporary Bangladesh" at Hotel Lakeshore in the capital, he called on all parties involved to refrain from actions that threaten press freedom and collaborate in strengthening democracy.

The book was written by writer, journalist and researcher Mohammad Zainal Abedin while the event was chaired by former Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad and BNP Standing Committee member Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar.

Referring to the recently happened subversive incidents, Fakhrul said, "We will have to keep patient and remain vigilant to help the interim government. We all will be plunged into darkness if the government fails."

About the recent clashes of students in the capital, Mirza Fakhrul urged all to remain patient and extend cooperation to the interim government.

"If the government fails, the revolution and mass uprising will also fail. And again, we will fall in darkness. So, we will have to think positively over these issues," he said.