BNP slams 'widespread arrest of its activists'

Accusing law enforcers of detaining its over 100 leaders and activists from its token hunger-strike programme in the city, BNP on Wednesday alleged that the government has taken a strategy to arrest its opponents by giving permission for their programmes, reports UNB.

"Police swooped on our leaders and activists after the end of our token hunger-strike programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, and arrested them indiscriminately," said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office, he further said, "The government has resorted to a new strategy to arrest our leaders and activists by giving us verbal permission for holding our programmes."

Earlier in the day, BNP observed a two-hour token hunger strike programme peacefully from 10am to 12pm on the premises of Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, demanding its Chairperson Khaleda Zia's release from jail and her proper treatment.