Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that Bangladesh Awami League (AL) government wants to exploit the issue of militancy for its political gains.
“The issue of militancy is still shrouded with mystery. Positions of RAB and police over the matter are conflicting, too,” said Fakhrul while talking to newsmen after paying tributes at the grave of BNP’s founder Ziaur Rahman in the capital on Thursday.
When his attention was drawn to today’s police raid in a so-called militant den in Chittagong, the BNP secretary general said a certain coterie is out to establish a fact that militancy exists in Bangladesh.
“The militancy-related incidents are not being investigated fairly. This is mysterious,” said Fakhrul.
He said a very few of the militants who have been arrested so far have been brought to justice.
“In most of the cases, they are being killed. So, the mystery remains. Furthermore, there is a huge gap between the positions of the government and the foreign agencies about the militancy in Bangladesh,” said the BNP leader.
Referring to the conflicting claims of the police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) about the role of the “militants” in carrying out different attacks, Fakhrul said, “Even there is no consistency between the different agencies like RAB and police [over the issue]; rather their statements are contradictory.”
Fakhrul went on saying, “So, doubts remain whether necessary steps are being taken to really uproot militancy or the militant incidents are being investigated fairly.”
In response to another query, the BNP secretary general said AL president and prime minister Sheikh Hasina has so far organised two public rallies using government facilities and where she sought vote for her election symbol Boat.
“This is the characteristic of AL.”
Alleging that the AL government is trying to organise a lopsided elections once again, Fakhrul said, “That will not be possible this time. People will in no way accept that.”
Source: Prothom Alo
