Govt misusing police force

Says Fakhrul

8 August 2011, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent

BNP acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said the government is misusing the police force to repress the opposition party and destroy the democracy by making it "Frankenstein" [a destructive agency that cannot be controlled]. “The Awami League government does not believe in democracy. They have destroyed the rule of law. Now the police force has emerged as a new breed of criminals,” he said while addressing a protest rally in front of the party's central office at Nayapaltan in the city. Dhaka city unit BNP organised the rally as part of its demonstration in protest against the arrest of pro-opposition lawyers, including party lawmaker Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papia. Party's city unit convener Mayor Sadeque Hossain Khoka presided over the meeting. A procession has also been brought out after the rally, which started from Nayapaltan and ended at Bijoynagar. Papia and two other lawyers -- Abu Bakar Siddique and Gazi Towhidul Islam -- were arrested on Thursday on charge of assaulting police personnel and preventing them from carrying out their duties on the Supreme Court premises Tuesday. Blaming the ruling Awami League for creating instability in judiciary, Mirza Alamgir asked the government to withdraw the cases filed against lawyers and demanded release of arrested lawyers without further delay. He said attitude and activities of police force look like "a criminal group". Recent killing at Aminbazar and incidents of Dhaka University student Kadar [who was tortured allegedly by police] and college student Limon [who was shot by elite force Rab] prove such state of the police force. The BNP leader reiterated the demand to cancel the 15th amendment to the constitution that annulled the caretaker government system and urged all to be united and prepared for a movement to compel the government to realise the demand.