Eradicate drugs through non-political drive: Fakhrul

THAKURGAON, May 23 (UNB): BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Wednesday the eradication of drug abuse is possible through a 'nonpolitical' drive and enforcement of law, not with 'crossfire'.

"Killing people in crossfires in the name of anti-narcotics drive can't take place in a civilised country," he said.

The BNP leader came up with the remarks while talking to reporters at his residence in Thakurgaon in the morning.

He said his party also wants the country to get rid of narcotics. "But it'll have to do through a nonpolitical drive and legal means. The offenders must be put on trial instead of killing in crossfire."

Fakhrul said law enforcers killed Chhatra Dal activist Amjad Hossain in crossfire in Netrakona suspecting him a drug peddler, though he was a very good boy.

The BNP leader alleged the government is carrying out the drive ahead of the national election to create panic among the people.

He also feared whether the drive is finally used to eliminate the opposition as their many leaders and activists are facing political cases across the country.

"We've been observing over the last nine years that the government is using law enforcers only to suppress and eliminate the opposition," the BNP leader added.

About the Gazipur polls, Fakhrul said his party's many leaders and activists were arrested ahead of the June 26 election.

He renewed his party's demand for withdrawal of Gazipur SP Harun-ar-Rashid for the sake of a credible election. "A fair and credible election is not possible in Gazipur in his (Harun's) presence."

The BNP leader said his party is joining the local body elections only to expose how the government has destroyed the election process.

He said the journalists are now passing through the most critical time in the country as they cannot write true stories due to the government's pressure.

Fakhrul said they have got information that some journalists were sacked for speaking the truth during the Khulna city polls.

Under the circumstances, he urged all to get united to restore democracy and establish a pro-people government by forcing the government to hold the next election under a non-party neutral administration.

Meanwhile, a BNP senior leader alleged on Wednesday his chairperson Khaleda Zia is living in prison like in hell.

She has been living in an unhealthy condition at a damp room of the abandoned Old Dhaka Central Jail, he said.

Khaleda Zia has been in jail since her conviction in Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on February 8

BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the comments while speaking at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the city.

The BNP leader said the government is not providing Khaleda with proper treatment with a motive to endanger her life.

"The unhealthy, damp and unlivable room in which our leader has been staying has become a centre to get affected with various diseases. It's like living in hell amid many insects," he said.

The BNP leader claimed the condition of his ailing party chief is worsening with the bites of the insects. "She coughs always as the room is wet, unhealthy and filled with dust."

He said the medical board formed by the government recommended providing Khaleda with an orthopedic bed and taking her to a specialised hospital for an MRI test, but the jail authorities are not paying heed to it due to the 'government's instruction'.

Rizvi said Khaleda's some relatives, who met her in jail on Tuesday, informed them that she has been suffering from serious pain in her neck, left hand, legs and eyes.

He said the condition of Khaleda's eyes is seriously deteriorating due to the fall of cement and sand from wornout walls of the jail. "Her two eyes always remain red because of pain."

He alleged Khaleda has been kept in a painful condition and made her suffer only to satisfy the Prime Minister's 'vengeance and anger'.

About the ongoing anti-narcotics drive, the BNP leader raised a doubt whether the government is killing the suspected drug peddlers and addicts in crossfires in a bid to save the 'real drug dealers'.

Rizvi said though 43 suspected drug peddlers were killed over the last nine days, the real drug dealers remain untouched. "As per media reports, they are visiting the residences of influential ministers."

The BNP leader also alleged the government is selectively killing young men belonging to BNP in the name of the anti-narcotics drive.