‘Govt trying to suppress new generation’

Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury yesterday alleged that the government is trying to suppress the new generation.

Speaking at a protest rally in the capital, he also accused the government of killing five youths in a planned way in Chattogram and Brahmanbaria on Friday over the protest against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit, reports UNB.

"Registering protest is our fundamental right. The killings… are planned," Zafrullah said, adding, "Those killed [on Friday] were young men. This new generation is being suppressed..."

Bhashani Anusari Parishad organised the rally in front of Jatiya Press Club protesting the attacks on programmes against Modi's visit on Friday, reports UNB.

Zafrullah, also a freedom fighter, alleged that the government forced the country's people to greet someone like Modi on the occasion of Bangladesh's golden jubilee.

Chief coordinator of Ganasanghati Andolan Zonayed Saki urged the government to ensure a proper investigation into police attacks on anti-Modi programmes in the capital, Chattogram and Brahmanbaria and make public the identities of those killed in the incidents.

He also demanded that the government put those responsible for the killings on trial and ensure compensation for the victim's family members.

Besides, Saki urged the government to investigate the attacks on different progressive student organisations over the past week and withdraw the false cases filed against them.

At one point yesterday, the organisers of the protest programme locked into an altercation with police members as they encircled the rally before it concluded, UNB adds.

Addressing the same rally, former vice president of Dhaka University Central Students' Union Nurul Haque Nur urged the countrymen to stage protest, saying the country was undergoing a crisis, reports a correspondent.

He also urged the ruling party to hold talks with different political parties to "bring back peace in the country".

Meanwhile, Faruque Hasan, a leader of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, claimed that police picked up 10 leaders and activists of the platform from the rally.

Asked, Sazzadur Rahman, deputy commissioner (Ramna division) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, refused to make any comment immediately.