Coercive acts only to increase public anger, says Fakhrul
Condemning the arrest of its senior leaders, opposition BNP on Saturday urged the government to pursue the path of dialogue on the polls-time non-party government to restore peace and relief among people.
In a statement, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “Come to the path of dialogue on restoration of the nonparty neutral caretaker government to create a sense of relief, peace and confidence in public mind.”
He also urged the government to arrange a free, fair and acceptable election. “You won’t be able to get public support further if you don’t do this.”
Fakhrul protested the arrest of four central BNP leaders –standing committee members Barrister Moudud Ahmed, MK Anwar and Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah, chairperson’s adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo — and chairperson’s special assistant special assistant Shamsur Rahman Shimul Biswas and putting barrier to entering the chairperson’s residence and police raid on the houses of central party leaders.
He demanded the government immediately release the arrested BNP leaders and withdraw “false” case against them.
He also demanded the removal of barrier to entering BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s residence by party leaders and withdrawal of additional police deployed around her Gulshan office and BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.
Hours after the opposition called a 72-hour hartal on Friday, plainclothes police detained the four BNP leaders and Shimul Biswas.
Fakhrul alleged that the government has got desperate to hold the next election under their own arrangement in a bid to stanch people’s verdict.
The BNP spokesman said the government followed the old path of stubbornness by arresting the top opposition leaders.
Mentioning that the government does not change its position on holding a one-sided election, he said no blueprint for holding a unilateral election will work.
Source: UNB Connect