Annie's arrest hints at govt's motive for another lopsided election: BNP

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said on Wednesday the arrest of the party's Publicity Secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie has given the hint that the government is targeting to hold another lopsided election.
"His (Annie) arrest proves that the government is inching towards holding unilateral elections," said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir at a press briefing at the party chairperson's Gulshan office in the capital.
The press briefing was organised to let the people know about the development of the party's ongoing one- point movement and next course of action to oust the government and party chairperson's treatment in abroad.
Mr Fakhrul said that the barbaric way Annie was arrested at around 2:00 am on Wednesday has proved the government's intention is to hold another unilateral election.
"We condemn and protest it. If he (Annie) had any fault, then he would have asked to appear at police station," he viewed.
He said that the party leaders who got bail were again arrested at the jail gate.
Mr Fakhrul reiterated his party's demand to the government for allowing BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia to go abroad for receiving advanced medical treatment.
"The government wants Begum Zia's death as the government is yet to arrange her proper treatment (allowing her to go abroad)," he said while mentioning the Prime Minister's adverse comments made earlier saying that Begum Zia should be pushed into the Padma River from the Padma Bridge.
He further said, "Begum Zia was evicted from her cantonment house through a directed verdict."
He said that BNP will not participate in the upcoming elections under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Replying to a question, Mr Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, however, said that they (BNP) might sit with the government for discussion only on the issue of election time caretaker government.
Mr Fakhrul alleged that the government has kept Begum Zia in confinement through a directed verdict.
"We've (BNP) heard that the ministry of law has opened a special section aiming to speedily execute the verdicts against BNP leaders," he alleged.
"Police and DB have started arresting our (BNP) leaders. Our request to them (police and DB) that they should behave humanly with our leaders (arrested)," said.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com