BNP briefs diplomats on AL attacks

Staff Reporter  :
The main opposition BNP on Wednesday briefed foreign diplomats stationed in Dhaka on the country’s latest political situation.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and the party’s senior leaders briefed the diplomats on the party’s observations over the political condition and some other issues, including attacks on their sit-in programme at the entrances of the capital at a closed-door meeting at a city hotel on Wednesday.

Diplomats from around 25 countries, including the USA, the UK, the EU, Germany, China and Russia attended about the hour-long meeting that began at 4:00 pm.

Apart from Mirza Fakhrul, party’s Standing Committee Members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan and Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury were, among others, present at the meeting.

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said they briefed the foreign diplomats about the current political incidents.

“We have informed them about the joint attacks on BNP’s peaceful programme on July 29 by the police and armed cadres of the ruling party. We think everyone should know the matter,” he said.

“The current arrest spree against our leaders and activists and false cases filed against us also were discussed. People, who believe in democracy and want to see democracy, democratic order and human rights in Bangladesh, need to know these issues. We informed the diplomats of these issues,” Amir Khosru said.

He said the foreign envoys also wanted to know in which direction Bangladesh is moving forward ahead of the next general polls.

The government has started using the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and government officials as they did before the elections in 2014 and 2018, he added.

Khosru said they elaborately apprised the foreign diplomats of the incidents of ‘terrorist’ attacks, arrests and torture by the police and ruling party men during BNP’s grand rally and sit-in programme in the capital on July 28 and 29 respectively.

He said they also told the foreign envoys that cases were filed against those who were subjected to attacks and repression. “Even, the cases were filed against many people who were staying abroad or in Saudi Arabia for Hajj.”

“Their (govt’s) intention is clear. Their target is to seize power by stealing votes and threatening people as part of their election strategy.”

“It has now become clear both at home and abroad that a fair election will not be held under the current regime,” the BNP leader said.