Govt blaming BNP to cover up own failure

BNP yesterday alleged that the government, without any proof and a fair probe, was blaming the party for some recent killings, including that of two foreigners, to hide its failures and divert the international community's attention.

"We have been observing with great surprise and anger that the government has been carrying out a false campaign," BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said in a statement.

Japanese citizen Hoshi Kunio was shot dead in Rangpur on October 3, five days after an Italian, Cesare Tavella, was killed in Dhaka's Gulshan.

Fakhrul said top BNP leaders and activists were being arrested and implicated in "false" cases as the government's political motive was to suppress the opposition and differing opinions.

He expressed concern over "such" a case filed against BNP Standing Committee Member Tariqul Islam and over 100 leaders and activists in Jessore. He demanded withdrawal of the cases and release of the arrestees. "The government is closing all the windows of democracy to strengthen the one-party rule as it is not taking any initiative to resolve the country's intolerable political situation," Fakhrul said.