Govt failing to check Eid extortion: BNP

BNP yesterday alleged that the government completely failed to check extortion across the country ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr for the involvement of the ruling party men and law enforcers.

"A grand horror festival of extortion is ongoing," said BNP spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon at a press conference at the party's Naya Paltan headquarters, urging the government to take immediate action.

He urged the government to make safe and hassle-free journeys being undertaken by those leaving the capital for their family homes centring Eid-ul-Fitr.

He called upon the government to ensure necessary security measures for people's lives and property as the capital would be nearly vacant.

Ripon, one of BNP's international affairs secretaries, also demanded that the government immediately release BNP leaders and activists on humanitarian grounds so that they can celebrate Eid with their families.

"Still our two standing committee members, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, and many other leaders and activists, including Shamsuzzaman Dudu and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, are in jail," he said.