Rizvi surprised at Saber Hossain Chowdhury’s quick bail

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi questioned in surprise on Thursday how Awami League leader and former minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury got bail barely within 24 hours of his arrest.

He alleged that a total of 11 killing and enforced disappearance incidents happened following directives of Saber Hossain Chowdhury.

Mr Rizvi made the comment while addressing a rally organised by family members of the July-August uprising martyrs demanding trial of Saber Hossain Chowdhury at Khilgaon in the capital.

"Dr Muhammad Yunus is the Chief Adviser of the interim government. Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul is a person very close to me. How could a murderer like Saber Hossain Chowdhury get bail while Dr Asif Nazrul is law adviser of the interim government,?" he questioned.

He alleged that many young people were brutally tortured by the Awami League (AL) cadres and law enforcing agency personnel in Khilgaon.

He said that many BNP-minded youths have lost their hands and legs due to oppressions carried out by the then AL leaders and activists.

He said that a youth named Jony was taken away from his home and later brutally killed by 16 bullets at Khilgaon during Awami League government.

"All the 11 killings and enforced disappearances happened upon the directives of Saber Hossain Chowdhury. He couldn't avoid this responsibility," he continued.

"Sheikh Hasina carried out genocide and Saber Hossain Chowdhury was one of her (Sheikh Hasina) accomplices. During their (AL) time none could even speak a single word in favour of democracy. None could say in favour of BNP, Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman. And for this reason he (Saber Hossain Chowdhury) was involved and implemented his party's killings and enforced disappearance programme," he said.

Mr Rizvi further said that if Saber Hossain Chowdhury got bail then those who were involved with financial scam and directly killed people during the fascist Sheikh Hasina regime may get free after some days.

Meanwhile, BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed called upon on Thursday the Chief Adviser of the interim government to announce national election roadmap.

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