BNP on Tuesday told the visiting delegation of the European Parliament’s Sub-committee on Human Rights that they are ready to sit in dialogue with the government to resolve the ongoing political crisis.
The party also told the EP team that the government is carrying out subversive acts with its agents only to malign opposition’s ongoing movement.
“Having an unelected government in power is the main reason behind the current political crisis. So we’ve made clear our position that we want to resolve the ongoing political deadlock through talks. We’re ready to sit with the government anytime,” BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan who was present at the meeting said.
The six-member EP delegation, led by Vice-Chair of the subcommittee on Human Rights Christian Dan Preda Cristian Dan Preda, sat in the meeting with the BNP chief around 6:30pm at her Gulshan office that continued for an hour.
The delegation discussed the country’s latest political situation, ongoing violence, extrajudicial killings, law enforcer’s activities, human rights violation, trade union, equal rights and some other issues, Khan, who is also a labour leader, said.
Newly appointed EP Ambassador to Bangladesh, Pierre Mayaudon, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan and BNP chairperson’s adviser Abdul Quayum were present at the meeting.
However, neither side officially briefed reporters about the outcomes of the meeting.
Contacted, Khan said they elaborately informed the EP team with facts and documents about the government’s repression, extrajudicial killings, wholesale arrest and violation of human rights by the government.
He said they also made their position clear about their ongoing democratic movement and its justification.
About the ongoing violence during their movement, Nazrul Islam Khan said they told the delegation that the government men are behind such activities to defame their agitation.
He also said the BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia repeatedly called upon the government to investigate and punish those involved in such violence.
“But the government is not doing that as their party men are involved in the subversive acts. The government also did not take action against the real culprits behind the violence before the January-5 election for the same reason.”
Instead of carrying out investigation, Khan said, the government is arresting people sweepingly, torturing them and illegally killing people which is be acceptable.
He said they are deadly against the ongoing political violence and they are regularly condemning it.
The EP team arrived here on Monday night to monitor humanitarian issues, countrywide violence, extrajudicial killings, and the latest political developments.
Source: UNB
