Opposition main target of nationwide crackdown, alleges BNP

'2,100 party leaders and activists arrested'

The BNP has claimed that more than 2,100 leaders and activists of the party have been arrested during the nationwide anti-militancy crackdown underway.  “More than 7,000 people have so far been arrested in connection with targeted killings by militants. Over 2,100 of them are BNP leaders and activists,” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press conference at the Naya Paltan party headquarters in the city yesterday (Monday). He alleged that the mass arrests were an attempt to hide the government's failures and misdeeds “The drive isn't to put an end to the serial killings, but to suppress democracy-loving opposition leaders and activists,” he said.
The BNP leader further said that people are being steam-rolled in the drive against militancy. A large number of so-called suspects, mostly ordinary people, have been arrested so far, he added.
Rizvi questioned the logic behind arresting thousands of people in the name of crackdown against militants and terrorists. “According to the police headquarters, only 85 militant suspects have been arrested. It must be questioned why thousands were arrested,” he said.
He claimed that although several thousands—most of them innocent and common people—have been held, the government is yet to identify the "real militants".
“The government has failed to identify militants among those arrested. They are arresting a number of innocent people in the month of Ramadan,” he added.
The BNP leader alleged that the government does not care about the rule of law, and that is why people are being arrested without warrant.
Replying to a question, Rizvi alleged that plainclothes policemen have been seen in front of the houses of senior party leaders, including the vice-chairman and joint secretary general.
Law enforcement agencies launched the special drive on Friday morning in the wake of recent killings in the country. Nearly 8,500 people were arrested in the last three days of the drive.
BNP leaders Mojibur Rahman Sarwar, Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Bilkis Jahan Shirin and Abdus Salam Azad, among others, were present at the meeting.

 

Opposition main target of nationwide crackdown, alleges BNP

2,100 party leaders and activists arrested

The BNP has claimed that more than 2,100 leaders and activists of the party have been arrested during the nationwide anti-militancy crackdown underway. More than 7,000 people have so far been arrested in connection with targeted killings by militants. Over 2,100 of them are BNP leaders and activists, said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at a press conference at the Naya Paltan party headquarters in the city yesterday (Monday). He alleged that the mass arrests were an attempt to hide the governments failures and misdeeds The drive isnt to put an end to the serial killings, but to suppress democracy-loving opposition leaders and activists, he said. The BNP leader further said that people are being steam-rolled in the drive against militancy. A large number of so-called suspects, mostly ordinary people, have been arrested so far, he added. Rizvi questioned the logic behind arresting thousands of people in the name of crackdown against militants and terrorists. According to the police headquarters, only 85 militant suspects have been arrested. It must be questioned why thousands were arrested, he said. He claimed that although several thousandsmost of them innocent and common peoplehave been held, the government is yet to identify the real militants. The government has failed to identify militants among those arrested. They are arresting a number of innocent people in the month of Ramadan, he added. The BNP leader alleged that the government does not care about the rule of law, and that is why people are being arrested without warrant. Replying to a question, Rizvi alleged that plainclothes policemen have been seen in front of the houses of senior party leaders, including the vice-chairman and joint secretary general. Law enforcement agencies launched the special drive on Friday morning in the wake of recent killings in the country. Nearly 8,500 people were arrested in the last three days of the drive. BNP leaders Mojibur Rahman Sarwar, Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, Bilkis Jahan Shirin and Abdus Salam Azad, among others, were present at the meeting.