The BNP-led 20-party alliance on Wednesday warned that any move to arrest BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will only accelerate the process of fall of the Awami League regime.
The party described the arrest warrant order for arresting the BNP chief as the last resort to prolong the Awami League’s stay in power by means of coercion.
BNP joint secretary general Salauddin Ahmed signaled the note of caution in a statement he sent to the press, almost 9 hours after a Dhaka court had issued the arrest warrant against Khaleda Zia.
The BNP leader said the current ‘autocratic’ regime has completed all the preparations to arrest the BNP chief in a false case as she, he pointe out, is the main barrier to establishing a ‘fascist one-party rule’ in the country.
“The ongoing movement can’t be stopped by filing false cases, launching attacks and issuing threats of arrest,” Salauddin Ahmed added.
Claiming that the government has already kept Khaleda Zia under undeclared house arrest, the BNP leader said food supply to the BNP chief’s office has remained disrupted for over two weeks while cable, phone and fax connections are yet to be restored.
He alleged that the government did not take action against those responsible for an ‘attack on Khaleda Zia’s motorcade’ at Bakhsibazar on her way to the makeshift court there on 24 December.
He further said, “Having failed to stop the mass movement even after killing hundreds of 20-party leaders and activists and arresting over 20,000 others, including senior leaders, the illegitimate regime is trying to put Khaleda Zia behind bars as part of its last efforts to cling to power.”
Source: Prothom Alo
