Condemning the attack on the residence of Barishal Sadar Upazila UNO reportedly by BCL activists, BNP on Thursday alleged that the government has unleashed its reign of terror in the country.
“The incident in Barisal has manifested that they (govt) have unleashed a reign of terror all over the country. Such incidents have been happening everywhere as the government has let loose the ruling party cadres,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.
He came up with the allegation while talking to reporters after placing wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave along with the leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Swechchasebak Dal, marking its 41st founding anniversary.
Fakhrul said the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists also padlocked the office room of Dhaka University Law Department Professor Asif Nazrul on the campus and threatened him with dire consequences. “Would you call it a civilised democratic country? It (current govt) is worse than Pakistanis.”
Police allowed a small number of Sewchchasebak Dal leaders to enter the grave premises of Zia following Tuesday’s clash between the law enforcers and leaders and activists of BNP’s Dhaka south and north units in the same area over a similar programme.
About Tuesday’s clash, Fakhrul said their party leaders and activists gathered in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area to peacefully place a wreath at Zia’s grave and offer fateha there marking the formation of new convening committees of BNP’s Dhaka north and south units.
“Our leaders and activists went there with emotion following the formation of the new committees. But they (police) could not tolerate it. They attack with arms whenever they see any public gathering. They admitted to firing 187 rounds of bullets. Can’t we even carry out peaceful programmes in a democratic country? It can’t go on like this,” he said.
The BNP leader alleged that the law enforcers and the ruling party ‘cadres’ are also obstructing BNP leaders and activists from distributing relief materials in different parts of the country.
He said the government has been trying to suppress the opposition leaders and activists with repressive acts so that they cannot raise their voice in favour of the country’s people.
Fakhrul said at least 25 leaders and activists of their party were detained as they came to pay homage to Zia today (Thursday) while many others were arrested earlier following Tuesday’s clash.
He demanded the government to release all the arrested leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies and withdraw ‘false’ cases filed against them.
The BNP leader said the government’s main target is to establish a one-party rule in Baksal style by eliminating all the opposition parties.
Fakhrul warned that no fascist and authoritarian regime could hang onto power for a long time in the history of the world. “We must defeat this government together with people through a united movement.”
Source: United News of Bangladesh