Govt slowly reducing political space for opposition: BNP

Countrywide human chain tomorrow for Khaleda's release, sit-in Thursday

FE Team | Published: March 05, 2018 00:08:48

A BNP senior leader alleged on Sunday the government is gradually 'squeezing' political space so that BNP cannot join the next general elections, reports UNB.
"They (govt) are shrinking the political space. They'll create a situation where BNP won't be able to participate in the election and realise people's voting and other rights," he said.
BNP senior leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury made the comments while speaking at a discussion organised by Nagorik Odhikar Andolan Forum at the National Press Club in the city on Sunday, demanding the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and party vice chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu
The BNP leader further said three state organs are helping the government to gradually reduce the political space.
Referring to a recent global survey report where Bangladesh was put at 102 among 113 countries of the world in terms of the rule of law, Khasru said it has a co-relation with the jailing of Khaleda Zia on 'false documents' and sending Chief Justice SK Sinha on force retirement.
He said BNP needs not to go to foreigners with complaints as the UN and other organisations are aware of the condition of the rule of law, human rights and freedom of speech in Bangladesh.
The BNP leader said all the foreign delegations visiting the country are talking about a neutral, credible and participatory election. "They're speaking about giving the opposition political space and allowing holding rallies and ensuring political rights."
He urged the government to pay heed to the foreigners' advice, and come to the path of democracy, shunning its despotic attitude, in the interest of the country and its people.
Meanwhile, BNP announced on Sunday a two-day countrywide fresh programme, including formation of human chain in the capital, demanding its chairperson Khaleda Zia's release from jail, reports UNB.
As part of its programmes, the party will form a human chain for an hour tomorrow (Tuesday) and stage a sit-in for another hour on Thursday.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi announced the programme at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office.
"We'll form human chains across the country from 11:00 am to 12:00 noon on Tuesday while stage sit-in on Thursday at the same time demanding the unconditional release of our chairperson Khaleda Zia," he said.
Rizvi said they will later announce the name of the venue to observe the two programmes in the capital.
BNP's last programme was countrywide leaflet distribution on March 1 demanding Khaleda's release.
After the jailing of Khaleda, the party observed different peaceful programmes, including leaflet distribution, countrywide demonstration, human-chain formation, sit-in, token hunger-strike, protest procession in five phases, demanding her release.
On February 8, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was sent to jail after a special court sentenced her to five years' rigorous imprisonment in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.
Rizvi alleged BNP's leaders and activists are being tortured taking them on remand. "Thousands of BNP leaders and activists have been kept in jail ahead of the next polls.
They're being oppressed in the name of remand."
He said his party senior joint secretary general Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal has been kept in narrow solitary confinement at Kashimpur High Security Central Jail where usually hardened criminals are kept.
On the other hand, the BNP leader said, those involved in plundering public money from different banks have been kept with various facilities at the newly built Keraniganj Central Jail.
"The politicians are being subjected to such brutal attitude of the current Sheikh Hasina-led government. We strongly condemn it," he added.
Rizvi demanded the government immediately release his party's all arrested leaders and activists.