‘BNP claims 650 activists arrest in 6 days’
Staff Reporter :
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has alleged that more than 650 of leaders and workers have been arrested across the country in 148 cases in the last six days during their ongoing mass movement against the government.
“In the last six days, a total of 148 cases have been filed against BNP leaders and workers throughout the country. In these cases, more than 650 were arrested and 5,000 leaders and workers have been implicated,” the Senior Joint Secretary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said at a press conference at the party’s central office in Nayapaltan here on Wednesday.
“Additionally, numerous BNP members have been injured in attacks by law enforcement agencies and government supporters in various locations across the country, with many of them requiring medical treatment and hospitalization,” he mentioned.
Rizvi stated that the special tribunal in Dhaka has started taking evidence in the Niko graft case against former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. He considered this as an ‘ominous plan’ by the government. Even in this case, Sheikh Hasina was involved as an accused, he further mentioned.
Rizvi alleged that by disregarding the principle of separation of powers, the government is trying to divert attention from its own power abuse and conducting the trial of Begum Zia in a biased manner.
He claimed that the government has resorted to heinous violence to suppress and intimidate the opposition activists in the ongoing mass movement.
The BNP senior leader, Rizvi also alleged that law enforcement agencies are launching attacks on BNP leaders and workers, as well as on their gatherings, using with firearms.
Rizvi also mentioned that cadres of the Chhatra League (student wing of the Awami League) are being recruited into the law enforcement agencies, and they are being used to disrupt processions, rallies, and gatherings of the BNP.
He further stated that Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader had mentioned that from now on, there would be no peaceful gatherings, and the BNP must be resisted throughout the country. The BNP’s strongholds must be demolished, he added.
Following this call, the police, RAB (Rapid Action Battalion), and the Special Security Force have launched a campaign of attacks, filing cases, and arresting the BNP leaders and activists.
Rizvi alleged that they had organised a peaceful processions in the Science Lab area, but the police have foiled the same without any provocation.
“Police launched an unprovoked attack on the BNP rally, arresting more than 30 leaders and activists, including Sheikh Robiul Alam Robi, a member of the BNP National Steering Committee,” he said.
