The BNP has raised questions about the death of a youth in Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) custody after the suicide attack on its Ashkona barrack.
Speaking at a meeting, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir wondered whether youths are being killed after being picked up and branded as militants, or is militancy being exposed.
The National People’s Party, (NPP), an ally of the BNP-led 20-Party Alliance, organised the meeting at Dhaka Reporters' Unity. Its chairman, Fariduzzaman Farhad, was in the chair.
 Quoting a report in the daily Prothom Alo on the death of Hanif Mridha, Fakhrul demanded an explanation from the home minister about conflicting statements of RAB and family members of Hanif.

“If the claim of the family members is true, then what kind of a country are we living in? The job of a law enforcement agency is to ensure the security of the people and disclose appropriate information to the nation,” he said.
After the suicide attack on a RAB barrack in Ashkona on Friday, RAB had claimed that Hanif Mridha died of sickness. But his family members claimed that he was taken away last month by members of law enforcement agencies. Fakhrul demanded a proper probe into the incident, saying many such incidents are taking place.
“Law enforcers are claiming one thing, but family members are saying something else. If what the family members are claiming is true, can it be said that a deep conspiracy is going on,” he added.
Hanif’s brother, in a complaint  with Siddhirganj police on March 4, stated that Hanif and his friend was taken away by some men, claiming to be members of law enforcement agencies, from Kanchpur area on February 27.  The body of Hanif was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for autopsy on Saturday. Then RAB claimed that he was arrested as a suspect after Friday’s suicide attack. 
He was taken to Kurmitota Hospital after he fell sick and died there, said RAB. 
Fakhrul warned the government not to sign any agreement that endangers the country’s independence and sovereignty and goes against the interests of the people. “We want fair share of Teesta waters… We want resolution of other outstanding issues,” he added.