BNP finds foul play in countrywide blackout

FE Team | Published: November 03, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi

BNP termed on Sunday 'mysterious' Saturday's countrywide massive power outage, and alleged that the government did it intentionally to disrupt the live broadcast of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia's Natore rally, reports UNB.
"A question has arisen in public mind whether yesterday's (Saturday' s) non-stop blackout was a part of the government's deep-rooted conspiracy. People believe that the government resorted to the ploy so that people couldn't directly watch BNP's mammoth rally through the media or social networks," said BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
He brought the allegation at a press briefing at the BNP's Nayapaltan central office.
Rizvi also alleged that the current 'illegal government formed through a voter-less election' can in no way tolerate the gathering of millions of people in Khaleda Zia's public meeting. "That's why the government is suffering from the phobia of BNP and its chairperson Khaleda Zia."
The country on Saturday suffered a worst blackout for around 10 hours as the national grid collapsed after a 400kv power transmission line between India and Bangladesh tripped.
Amid the power outage, Khaleda addressed a massive public rally at a college ground in Natore.
Rizvi claimed that the government also has earlier forced different electronic media outlets not to telecast live Khaleda Zia's rallies. He harshly criticised the Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC), saying it is working as a puppet of the government.
The BNP leader said the ACC is giving impunity to the corrupt ruling party men while the statuary body is harassing the opposition leaders and activists by filing 'false' cases against them.
Meanwhile, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia will sit with the BNP standing committee members on Wednesday night to discuss the country's latest political situation and work out the party's next course of action to force the government arrange snap polls under a non-party administration.
The meeting is scheduled to start around 8:30 pm at the Khaleda Zia's Gulshan political office, BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi told the news agency on Sunday.