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Extrajudicial killings on in name of anti-narcotic drive

Fakhrul tells Iftar party


May 22, 2018 00:00:00


BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged on Monday the government is 'indulging in extrajudicial killings' in the name of a countrywide anti-narcotic drive, reports UNB.

The BNP leader made the comments while speaking at an iftar party organised by Khelafat Majlish, one of the components of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, at a hotel in the city's Jatiya Krira Parishad Bhaban.

He urged the government to first arrest those ruling party men involved in drug peddling.

"A fresh drive to control narcotics has begun. We also want the country to be freed from drug abuse and those involved in it to be brought to justice. But it doesn't mean people would be killed unlawfully without any trial," Fakhrul said.

He further said, "It's surely a good initiative that you're carrying out a drive against narcotics. But you first arrest the drug peddlers in your own party and take action against them."

The BNP leader alleged Abdur Rahman Bodi MP of Cox's Bazar's Teknaf has been running drug trade as he was released on bail from jail. "Not only him, but also many other ruling party men at almost every place are involved in this business."

Meanwhile, a BNP senior leader said on Monday it will be suicidal for the opposition to join any national election under Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister (PM) has exposed herself by praising a 'flawed' election to Khulna City Corporation.

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.

He feared that the next general election might be held in Khulna style.

"The Prime Minister's high appreciation (of Khulna polls) has proved that the government high-ups are order-givers for rigging votes in the election. Her comments also exposed that the next national election will be held following the Khulna model," he observed.

Earlier on Sunday, the PM said voters cast their votes in favour of Awami League as they think only her party can change their fate through development activities.

"They've realised that development activities get momentum when Awami League comes to power and those get stalled whenever BNP is in power," Sheikh Hasina said when newly-elected Khulna City Corporation (KCC) Mayor Talukder Abdul Khalek came to her official residence Ganobhaban to greet her following his victory in the KCC polls.

Reacting to the remarks, Rizvi said the PM undermined the voters by justifying the Khulna polls. "She did it using her illegal state power after depriving voters of their rights," the BNP leader added.

He criticised the Election Commission for what he said having failed to play its due role as an independent body in the Khulna polls. "The EC has only implemented the government's agenda."

The BNP leader aired strong doubt about fair voting in Gazipur city polls as he said the ministers and MPs have started influencing the election there as they did it in Khulna.


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