Dhaka: BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today stated that incidents of torture and death in the custody of law enforcers must be stopped. He made this assertion in a statement issued on the eve of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Fakhrul expressed condolences and sympathy to oppressed individuals, nations, groups, castes, and linguistic communities in Bangladesh and worldwide. He highlighted the long-standing oppression faced by people under tyrannical rulers, dictators, and one-party regimes. Fakhrul emphasized the destruction of world peace, security, democracy, and progress by such dictators, noting ongoing violence and conflict related to language, caste, ethnicity, and community.
Fakhrul criticized illegal powerful individuals for causing bloodshed and violence to assert dominance, oppressing people through state-driven revenge. Despite advancements in mechanical civilization, he argued that human civilization has not progressed significantly. He referenced the July-August mass uprising last year, during which many lives were lost and people were harmed by the government’s suppression policies.
He criticized the past Awami government for its brutal oppression, stating that for 16 years, numerous disappearances, killings, and torture occurred due to state terrorism. Fakhrul accused the government of lacking accountability, controlling institutions, and imposing one-party rule. He noted the suppression of freedom of expression and the oppression of pro-democracy leaders, including the BNP, leading to a state of anarchy.
Fakhrul asserted that the ruling class erased democracy through oppression and torture. He highlighted the imprisonment of BNP Chairperson and former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia on false charges, describing her mistreatment and lack of proper medical care as state oppression.
He called for the highest possible rehabilitation measures for victims of state oppression and their families, advocating for fair compensation and justice. Fakhrul urged democracy-loving individuals to unite against oppression.