Information and Broadcasting Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud said on Sunday that BNP's silence on the Palestine issue proved their support for Israel.

"BNP leaders including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir remained silent on the Palestine issue when the innocent Palestinians and children are being killed like birds. You should know them," he said.

He was speaking at a meeting organised by Awami League Sripur-Kharandiwp union unit of Boalkhali upazila and Union Parishad at the UP auditorium.

Dr Hasan said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has protested the killings. "I also have protested the killings of innocent people as a joint general secretary of Awami League and the information minister. On the other hand, the BNP remained silent. They are silent as a large group might be unhappy which means they are in favour of Israel," he added.

Referring to the government's various steps for the development of the marginalized people, Hasan Mahmud said, "Two to three thousand beneficiaries in each union are getting various types of allowances from the government. Earlier, there were governments of Khaleda Zia, Ershad and Ziaur Rahman, but these were not. These allowances have been introduced since 1996 when Bangabandhu's daughter Sheikh Hasina took over the responsibility of running the country."

"Begum Khaleda Zia came and reduced the allowance in 2001, so if the BNP comes to power again, such allowances will stop," he warned.

Presided over by Sreepur-Kharandwip Union Parishad Chairman Mokarram Hossain and moderated by Union Awami League General Secretary Ismail Hossain Khokon, the rally was addressed, among others, by Boalkhali Upazila Chairman Rezaul Karim Raja, Upazila Awami League President Nurul Amin Chowdhury, Union Awami League President Ratan Chowdhury, Former Vice President of Upazila Awami League Nurul Huda, Education and Human Resources Affairs Secretary Sekander Alam Babar.