The BNP on Tuesday accused the government of creating barriers to meetings and rallies of opposition parties in the country.
“BNP and other political parties have now been on a movement to realise the 10-point demand. Our leaders, activists, supporters, well-wishers and common people who join our programmes are facing obstacles by the government and police administration while observing or implementing the programmes of the movement,” said BNP acting office secretary Syed Imran Saleh Prince at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.
According to UNB, the BNP leader also alleged that their party leaders and activists were attacked, tortured and obstructed in different parts of the country on Monday by the police administration while observing peaceful programmes of rallies and processions to press home their 10-point demands and to protest the hikes in power tariffs.
Besides, he said the local administration created pressure on the BNP leaders and activists in most divisional cities and upazila headquarters not to observe the programme.
On behalf of BNP, Prince thanked the leaders and workers for observing the programme together with people, defying all obstacles.
He said police and the ruling party cadres attacked the BNP activists and tried to foil their programmes in Chittagong city, Sitakunda, Gouripur of Mymensingh, Muktagachha, Dhamrai of Dhaka, Palash of Narsingdi, Gwainghat of Sylhet, Ullapara of Sirajganj, Kuliarchar, Bhairab of Kishoreganj, Kushtia, Madaripur and some other areas.
Prince said many BNP leaders and activists were arrested and false cases were filed against them. “We strongly condemned and protested the incidents.”
He also demanded the immediate release of those arrested and the withdrawal of the cases. He called upon the government to stop the repression and open the normal path to politics.