Govt oppressing opposition: BNP

The BNP on Tuesday alleged that the government was carrying out atrocities and mass arrests to suppress the opposition, and called for a halt to ‘excesses’.

BNP Joint General Secretary Salahuddin Ahmed made the allegations near BNP’s Naya Paltan headquarters in Dhaka. He warned of tougher movements if ‘atrocities and arrests’ were not stopped.
“Next phase of the movements will be discussed tonight (Tuesday) at a meeting of the BNP’s National Standing Committee at Gulshan office.”

Police were seen outside the BNP headquarters. Plainclothes policemen, detectives and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel, and armoured car, water cannon and prison van were seen around in a state of readiness.

BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Joint General Secretary Salahuddin Ahmed, Assistant Office Secretary Abdul Latif and other activists were seen inside the office.

The collapsible gate leading to the office was locked.

Salahuddin Ahmed said shutdown supporters were facing attacks nationwide from law enforcers and government supporters during their ‘peaceful strikes’.

“This is how the government is oppressing opposition to cover up its corruption and misrule. The government must accede to the demand for caretaker government.”

Police nabbed over 150 activists of the 18-Party Alliance from a raid on the BNP headquarters on Mar 11 after blasts at their rally that day.

The Monday-Tuesday shutdown was called demanding their release.