Govt trying to create confrontational situation in the country: BNP

Staff Reporter :
The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has accused that the government is trying to create a confrontational situation in a planned way by attacking the peaceful programmes of the opposition across the country.
The government has made many laws to stay in power, party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said and added, “We’re clearly observing that this government is taking the country towards conflict in a planned way. They want to create a confrontational situation by attacking and obstructing the programmes of the opposition parties without any provocation.”
Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal arranged the discussion at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity protesting at the killing of Sultana Jasmine, a union land office employee in Naogaon, in RAB custody in the past month.
According to Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the Awami League-led government has done the biggest damage by changing the constitution in fundamental areas.
Men and women, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians are not safe under the present government, he said, adding that Awami League people protested for caretaker government and in that movement they went on strike for 173 days.
“They (AL) killed many people in the movement. Among them, 11 people were killed when gunpowder was sprayed on a bus in front of the Sheraton Hotel. The then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina said that caretaker government is the demand of the people. They will not participate in elections without a caretaker government,” the BNP’s senior leader said.
He, however, said that their party had so far been observing all the programmes of their ongoing movement in a peaceful and democratic manner braving all obstacles and repressive acts.
Stating that Awami League always talks about abiding by the constitution, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the opposition’s rights to speak and protest have been enshrined in the national charter.
The BNP leader alleged that the ruling party did not believe in democracy and freedom of expression. ‘To them (those in power), they alone will speak up and all must follow their words like their slaves. But the people of Bangladesh won’t let that happen.’
BNP Secretary General said that Sultana Jasmine was picked up by the law enforcers illegally from the street. ‘This can’t happen in any civilised and democratic country. It’s a gross violation of law and the constitution.’
He also said that there was no reason to downplay the murder incident of Jasmine. “This killing has manifested that the current usurper Awami League government wants to cling to power by killing and torturing people and filing false cases against them.”
The BNP leader alleged that the members of elite force Rapid Action Battalion had been indulging in repression and killing of people at the behest of the government high-ups.
He said that the government had been increasingly using the Digital Security Act to suppress those who talk about its corruption and injustice and raise voices against it.
According to Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, “We have long been protesting against this law alongside the journalist brothers and the editors. But they (govt) won’t do it (repeal or amend it).”
He said that the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the government to reform the DSA and repeal its two sections, but the Law Minister turned down it.