BNP demands leaders’ release before Ramadan

BNP demanded on Tuesday the government release its all leaders and activists, including party acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, before the holy month of Ramadan for the sake of democracy, reports UNB

On the other hand, the party blamed the government for failure to sign Teesta water sharing deal during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent Dhaka visit.

"Ramadan is set to begin. Many party senior leaders, including acting secretary general Mira Fakhrul Islam, standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, chairperson's adviser Shamsuzzaman Dudu and joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi have been in jails with illness. Many of our activists have also been passing tough time in prisons," said party spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon.

Addressing a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office, he also said, "We call upon the government to play a role in building democratic culture in the country by releasing our all leaders and activists before Ramadan."

Ripon claimed that their leaders and activists were made accused and arrested, many of them in 'false, fabricated and politically motivated' cases only to harass them.

Describing BNP as a liberal democratic party, he said the party believes government can be changed only through credible polls where people can freely exercise their voting right. "BNP never thinks of returning to power through any other means rather than election."

The BNP leader alleged that the government is trying to hang onto power resorting to repressive acts. "Democracy can't be flourished if the government considers the opposition as its enemy and tries to annihilate it."

"The government must shun repression and return to the path of democracy for the betterment of the country and its people," he added.

Meanwhile, BNP blamed the government as the Teesta water-sharing agreement could not be signed during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent Dhaka visit.

"As a nation, we've got frustrated as the Teesta deal couldn't be signed. It's government's failure," said BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon.

He came up with the remarks while addressing a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office.

Asked as to how BNP evaluates Modi's visit, Ripon said, "It can't be replied in one sentence as it may create confusion. We should first review the agreements and memoranda of understanding signed during the visit before making any comment on it. The government is yet to disclose information regarding those."

The BNP leader further said, "It can be said now whether Modi's visit was successful or not. We welcomed his tour and hoped it would open up a new era of friendship and cooperation between the two countries."

He demanded the government make public all the agreements and memoranda of understanding inked during the Indian Prime Minister's tour for transparency and people's understanding.

Claiming that BNP always follows the policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism and militancy, Ripon said their leaders and activists accused in cases in connection with sabotage and violence will be found innocent if a fair investigation is carried out.