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Govt using police to ‘terrorise’ people

JOF leaders tell envoys


FE Report | December 20, 2018 00:00:00


Jatiyo Oikya Front (JOF) leaders have alleged that police personnel are being used in a bid to 'terrorise' people across the country ahead of the national election.

They made the allegation in a meeting with foreign diplomats at a city hotel on Wednesday.

"We have informed them (the diplomats) about the ground-level situation ahead of the polls. You see police have been seen unusually active for the last two weeks, and they have been nabbing general people without any specific reason," Dr Kamal Hossain, JOF top leader, told the reporters after the meeting.

"The policemen are being used to terrorise people. A sense of fear is being spread among people, so that they become afraid in exercising their voting rights."

He said he has no preference to either BNP or Awami League.

"My goal is to ensure a free and fair election. A free and fair election is necessary to change the government. All people should have the opportunity to cast their votes without any intimidation."

Dr Kamal recalled that he fought for the same reason in 2008, and then he was with Awami League.

Responding to a question he said, they have apprehension regarding the role of chief election commissioner (CEC).

"And I have told the CEC about this apprehension when we met him," he added.

Representatives of over 30 foreign missions in Dhaka, including USA, UK, Germany, Japan, China, India and Pakistan, were present in the meeting, claimed BNP leader Asaduzzaman Ripon.

BNP central committee member Tabith Awal said they have presented detailed statistics of the repression, unleashed by the government against the opposition activists ahead of the election.

"Over 15,000 activists of our party have been arrested in December. Seven of our candidates have been nabbed," he added.

After the meeting, US Ambassador Earl R Miller said they want to see a healthy electoral process in Bangladesh.

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