BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday questioned the 'inactive role’ of police in stopping the day-long clashes between shopkeepers and Dhaka College students in the city’s New Market area that killed a courier service employee.
"One person was killed and several others were seriously injured in a series of clashes between students and businessmen in the New Market area yesterday (Tuesday). My question is why the police played an inactive role. A police officer said they were inactive for strategic reasons,” he said.
Speaking at a programme at the BNP chairperson's office in Gulshan, Fakhrul wanted to know the explanation of the ‘strategic reasons’ behind the law enforcers’ inaction to stop the violence, reports UNB.
BNP arranged the programme to provide assistance and gifts ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr to the family members of the party leaders and activists who were killed, tortured and made disappeared.
The BNP leader said the current government has completely failed to run the country and deliver on all fronts. “This failed government has now turned the country into a failed state as they have no control anywhere and there is no accountability anywhere.”
He also bemoaned that police and other departments of the government have no accountability, creating a lawlessness situation in the country.
At least 40 people were injured as a group of Dhaka College students and shopkeepers in the New Market area fought pitched battles on Tuesday following an altercation at a fast food shop on Monday night.
Courier service employee Nahid Hasan who was injured during the clash died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday night.
Fakhrul alleged that the current government has been staying in power by spreading fear in the public mind.
“Intimidating the entire state and society is the biggest weapon for a fascist regime to survive. The current failed and illegitimate Awami League government is still in power by creating a frightening situation all around,” he observed. The BNP leader said the old cases filed against BNP leaders are being revived to divert people’s attention in a different direction from the ruling party leaders’ corruption.
He said a case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) against BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman’s wife Zubaida Rahman 15 years back has been revived. “Another case against Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain has also been revived in the same manner as an attempt of diversion since their (AL leaders’) corruption issues are being exposed now.”
Fakhrul said newspapers are running reports on how the ruling party leaders at different levels--from the centre to the union--amassed huge wealth by indulging in corruption. “They are indulging in corruption in every district, Upazila and even at the union.”
He, however, alleged that the ACC is not taking any step to investigate the allegations of corruption against the ruling party leaders. “This ACC has completely been politicised like the judiciary and the entire administration.”
The BNP leader said Bangladesh is now truly under one-party rule. “Their (AL’s) now goal is to control the next election as they did before to come to power again.”
Referring to the US’s sanctions on Rab and its current and former officials and its human rights report, Fakhrul said it is now a proven fact that there is no democracy in Bangladesh as a usurper government has been in power by resorting to enforced disappearance, killing, repression and sending people to jail.
He called upon all the democratic political forces to get united to get rid of the current situation in the country.