THAKURGAON, Dec 23 (UNB): BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir alleged on Saturday that the people showing dissidence became victims of enforced disappearance after the Awami League came into power.
After attending a meeting with local BNP leaders at Hawladar Community Centre in Ashrampara in the district, Fakhrul came up with the allegation.
"In the past, there was no culture of enforced disappearances in the country; it all started with Awami League coming into government. People are being made victims of enforced disappearance to gag the journalists, political leaders, bloggers who possess different views", Fakhrul said.
He criticised that the reasons behind such cases of disappearances are not being revealed and a few of the victims are now made to make comebacks amidst global community's outcry.
Referring to the recent Rangpur City Corporation polls, Fakhrul said "In Rangpur city polls AL had a total debacle, people have shifted from them (AL) and BNP bagged greater number of votes."
Meanwhile, BNP on Saturday termed 'ambiguous and unprecedented' the recent promotion of 193 deputy secretaries and its equivalent officials to joint secretaries.
"A gazette notification was issued on Thursday night about the promotion of 193 officials. It's a mysterious and unprecedented move which stirred up many questions and created doubt among all quarters," said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Speaking at a press conference at the party's Nayapaltan central office, Rizvi also alleged that the government has put the existence of the administration at stake by destroying its neutrality through widespread politicisation.
On Thursday night, the government promoted 193 officials to the post of joint secretaries attaching them to the Public Administration Ministry as officers on special duty.
Rizvi alleged that many competent and deserving officials who had been there in the fit-list of Superior Selection Board (SSB) were not promoted. "Several hundred talented and eligible officials were deprived of promotion this time as well. Many of them are voicing anger and frustration for not being evaluated."
He alleged that the government has destroyed the balance in the administration by appointing ineligible officials to the important posts depriving the competent ones of promotion.
Reacting to the Home Minister's comment that missing people have started returning home due to law enforcers' active role, Rizvi asked the government to reveal who are behind making those people to disappear.
He said the repeated incidents of disappearance are the outcome of state-sponsored terrorism.
The BNP leader also urged the Home Minister to ensure the return of other missing people, including Ilais Ali, Chowdhury Alam and other leaders of BNP and its associate bodies, and other professionals. "The families of the missing people are still waiting for the return of their near and dear ones. Take steps for their safe return."
He also said the government is responsible for those have been made to disappear since 2008.
Referring to Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader's comment that their party will return to power again, Rizvi questioned whether the ruling party has made another blueprint to hold a 2014-like lection.
He said Quader's remark manifested the government's plot over the next general election.
