Govt using AL cadres to foil BNP programmes
Says Rizvi
The main opposition in parliament BNP yesterday alleged that the government deliberately foiled its recent demonstration programmes across the country using “party cadres” and police.
“Awami League cadres and law enforcers blatantly attacked our party men who were observing the programmes,” said BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press conference in BNP's Naya Paltan office in the city.
The programmes were being held in Joypurhat, Chittagong, Khulna, Gaibandha, Sunamganj, Sirajganj, Sherpur, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Magura and Sylhet, said Rizvi.
From Sunday night to yesterday evening, around 214 party men were arrested and some 250 men injured in the attacks, he claimed.
He demanded withdrawal of all cases filed against the party men and immediate release of those arrested.
Moreover, police in Sylhet asked BNP leaders through a formal letter not to observe the programmes, he said.
BNP already sent letters to the home ministry, Inspector General of Police and others seeking security and cooperation for the party's road march towards Chittagong on January 8 and 9, Rizvi said.
Yesterday, BNP held demonstration rallies in the district towns protesting obstruction of a BNP mass rally, the barricades surrounding BNP headquarters and arrest and harassment of party men on December 21 and price hike of electricity.
In the morning, BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the government is intentionally foiling BNP's “democratic programmes” to divert people's attention from BNP's “core demand” to restore the caretaker government system.
Fakhrul was talking to reporters while visiting Labour Party Chairman Mustafizur Rahman Iran at a city hospital.
Meanwhile, at another press conference yesterday, Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, BNP's youth wing, announced a two-day countrywide programme on January 2 and 4 protesting the arrest and harassment of party men.
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