Country passing thru judicial anarchy, says Fakhrul

Voicing surprise over the Pabna court's verdict against their party men, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday alleged that the country is experiencing a judicial anarchy, reports UNB.

"The entire nation has got surprised over the verdict that a Pabna court handed down yesterday (Wednesday) centring an incident of 1994 at Ishwardi Rail Station," he said.

Speaking at a discussion, he further said, "What type of judgment is it? Two shots were fired...Rentu (Motiur Rahman Rentu) in his book Amar Fashi Chai wrote who fired those bullets. Nine people were sentenced to death while 25 others to life in prison in that incident. It's a tyranny as a judicial anarchy is going on in the country."

Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB), a pro-BNP platform of physicians, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the release of Khaleda Zia from jail.

Pabna Additional District and Sessions Judge Rustom Ali on Wednesday sentenced nine BNP activists to death and jailed 25 others for life for attacking a train carrying then opposition leader Sheikh Hasina in 1994.

The court also sentenced 13 others to 10 years in jail.

A Rajshahi-bound train carrying Sheikh Hasina was attacked at Pakshi Rail Station on September 23, 1994. The attackers fired shots and hurled bombs at the train.

Reacting to the verdict, Fakhrul said they have not only got disappointed, but also aggrieved by the court order. "This verdict has exposed that the judiciary in Bangladesh has no independence," he observed.

The BNP leader said the government is trying to turn Bangladesh into a failed state by destroying all the institutions and putting economy at a serious stake.

He said the country's election system has also been destroyed while people have lost their confidence in the Election Commission.

Voicing deep concern over the slide in law and order, Fakhrul said a deputy inspector general (DIG) bribed the Anti-Corruption Commission while Sonagazi police station officer-in-charge posted a video of sexually harassed madrasah student Nusrat Jahan Rafi on the social media.

"Another video containing an OC's dance with a dancer went viral. This is the current situation."

He said the law enforcers now do not care anyone since they have no accountability. "How will a state survive when its judiciary, law enforcers, bureaucracy have been destroyed and the media are regulated?

About Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's China tour, the BNP leader said nine bilateral instruments were signed on mega projects for indulging in 'mega' corruption.

"We could have been happy had she (Hasina) held a meeting with Chinese President to resolve Rohingya crisis giving priority to it," he said.