Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) standing committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed on Friday threatened to take up the issue of the crackdown on Hefazat-e-Islami activists at Shapla Square in the early hours of May 6 with the United Nations if the government does not form a judicial probe panel to investigate the incident. “I will request the government to form an impartial probe commission, headed by a retired chief justice, to ensure a transparent investigation into such a big incident, instead of trying to cover it up,” he said while addressing a discussion meeting at the National Press Club. The meeting was organised by the Bangladesh Youth Forum.
Barrister Moudud termed the overnight crackdown a stigma on the country’s democracy.
He alleged that a large number of people were killed in the joint operation conducted by police, Rapid
Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel, after they cut off power supply for over three hours.
The BNP leader rejected the government’s claim that there was zero casualty and that no lethal weapon was used in the operation. He asked the government why it did not allow the media to cover the operation and took two channels off the air. “The government’s dubious moves have created major confusion in the minds of the public,” he said.
He also urged the government to cease its propaganda that Hefazat activists set fire to copies of the Holy Quran, adding that people do not believe that any Muslim can do this. Regarding the Prime Minister’s offer for a dialogue, he said the government has destroyed the environment for talks by its repressive acts.
Again, BNP standing committee member Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah demanded formation of a high-powered impartial committee under the supervision of the United Nations to investigate the “attacks by law enforcers” on the Hefazat activists.
in the dark of night on Monday, in which many people were killed. He was addressing a human chain programme in front of the National Press Club on Friday.
“The nation wants to know as to how many people were killed during the operation carried out in the dark of the night. That’s why a standard impartial neutral committee should be formed under the UN’s supervision. The suspicions of the people can only be removed if such a committee is formed,” he said.
-With The Independent input
