‘BNP taking Bangladesh towards North Korea’

National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser for the Southern Region and lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah has accused the BNP government of curbing freedom of expression, alleging that 30 people have been detained for expressing their views during its eight months in office.

Comparing Bangladesh’s situation to North Korea under the Kim dynasty, Hasnat said people were being detained for speaking out against the government.

“People are not being able to express their opinions. Anyone who speaks against the government is being detained,” he said at a public outreach programme in Gulistan yesterday.

Hasnat said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had pledged before the election to uphold the freedom to dissent, but the government had yet to demonstrate its commitment to that promise.

“The prime minister made such remarks to win the election and win over the public. In reality, there is no basis to his words,” he said.

Drawing a comparison with North Korea, Hasnat said the country had a one-party system in which people were expected to appear happy and applaud after voting for the ruling leader.

“The BNP is heading in that direction. People are being detained the moment they speak of their sufferings,” he alleged.

Criticising the inspector general of police (IGP), Hasnat accused the police chief of working in the interests of the home minister rather than the public.

“During the Awami League’s rule, there was a ‘Prime Minister’s man’. Now there is a ‘Home Minister’s man’,” he said, adding that the IGP, who had returned from abroad, had lost public support.

Hasnat warned that freedom of speech could not be curtailed and said extrajudicial killings would not be tolerated in Bangladesh. He also demanded the IGP’s removal.