'State-sponsored violence' aims to foil BNP's march

Says Khasru

1 January 2012, 18:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Ctg

BNP Chittagong city unit President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury yesterday alleged that “state-sponsored violence” is being carried out to foil BNP's upcoming Chittagong road march. As part of the “shameful” plot, law enforcers are arresting and intimidating the party activists, the party's banners and posters concerning the road march are being vandalised and an arch was set on fire, he said. Khasru was speaking at a press conference in BNP's Chittagong city unit office in Kazir Dewry area protesting the arson attack. Some motorcycle-riding miscreants set fire to an arch, erected in front of his Mehedibagh residence, around 1:30am yesterday, he alleged. Last week, police arrested 200 party leaders and activists and are still raiding the residences of senior BNP leaders in Chittagong, said Khasru. The “mysterious” raids by Chittagong Metropolitan Police targeting drug dealing are only aimed at harassing BNP activists and foiling the road march, he added. They sought permission thrice to hold a rally at Railway Polo Ground but were denied. “BNP would use any of the city's grounds to hold the rally” if the permission is not granted, said Khasru. BNP city unit General Secretary Dr Shahadat Hossain, Vice President Shamsul Alam, Abu Sufian and former whip Syed Wahidul Alam were present.