BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman said some sections are trying to create a confrontation between the army and the people.

"Right now, we can see there is an attempt to make the army controversial. [A group is] trying to bring the army face to face with the people. Just as reform and elections were placed in opposite directions some days ago, a similar attempt is now being made to have a face-off between the army and people. You as a journalist and I as a political activist, we both understand that certain vested quarters are behind this," Tarique said at an iftar event yesterday.

He made these remarks virtually at an iftar event hosted by the BNP Media Cell in honour of journalists at a city hotel.

"If all patriotic citizens remain aware and vigilant, we will surely be able to counter this conspiracy. We must counter it at any cost. Journalists have a crucial role to play here. Various issues are being made controversial, even some of which are not true. If you [journalists] present the truth before the nation, we will undoubtedly be able to overcome this conspiracy," he added.

The BNP leader said that a vested quarter believes they will succeed in their conspiracy. "But if we work together, we can certainly resist it. Our first and foremost goal should be to establish the democratic rights of the people of this country..."

At the same event, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said a new conspiracy is underway to destabilise Bangladesh once again.

This conspiracy aims to push Bangladesh into a crisis once more. Key institutions -- those essential for safeguarding the country's independence and sovereignty -- are being made controversial. In particular, efforts are being made to make the army controversial, he said.

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Fakhrul said, "The objective is clear -- just as the country's independence and sovereignty were threatened under past fascist regimes, a similar attempt is now being made. There is an effort to make the army controversial, which has always stood by the nation in crucial moments."

Addressing journalists, he said that journalists have always served as the conscience of the nation. In times of crisis, they have stood and provided the people with accurate news.

"Today, we expect the same role from you. And especially as wrong narratives and disinformation against the BNP continue to spread, we hope the BNP Media Cell will play a good role in countering it. The people of this country will stand against any conspiracy to destabilise the nation. We will all work together."