BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has alleged that the government has implicated at least 16 senior BNP leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, in connection with Thursday’s arson attack on a bus that left a youth dead and 16 people injured. In a written statement, Khaleda said the government has unleashed the politics of vengeance. She also said that the AL is pushing the country towards an absymal situation to hold a one-sided poll under its own management.
Demanding immediate withdrawal of the arson attack case, Khaleda, also the opposition leader, said the Election Commission (EC) has fuelled the ongoing anti-government movement by announcing the schedule of the 10th parliamentary poll in haste.
The government is illegally using members of law enforcement and intelligence agencies. AL-backed musclemen have already let loose a reign of terror to create a political turmoil, she alleged.
“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is instigating her partymen to go for vandalism on the street. There is no one to lodge a case against her,” she said.
The former premier also said that the government has illegally cordoned off her party’s Naya Paltan central office. “I am calling upon the people to carry out a massive anti-government movement in a peaceful manner, to force the government to meet the demand for election under a non-party poll-time administration,” she added.
In a statement signed by Abdul Latif Jony, assistant office secretary of the party, Khaleda Zia sought eternal peace of all departed souls of those who were killed by the police during the 71-hour-long countrywide crackdown.
A case was filed against 16 opposition leaders, including party’s acting secretary general, standing committee members and vice-chairman, with Shahbagh Police Station on Friday, in connection with Thursday’s arson attack.
-With The Independent input
