Democratic rights and right to expression being snatched

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday alleged that the government has besieged democracy like an octopus. “Today, people’s democratic rights and their right to expression are being snatched. The government has grabbed democracy like an octopus,” he said. Fakhrul was speaking at a discussion organised by BNP at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 7th detention anniversary of its senior vice-chairman Tarique Rahman. The BNP senior vice chairman was arrested on March 7, 2007 during the army-backed interim regime. He was freed from jail on bail on September 3, 2008 and left for London for treatment eight days later. Since then, Tarique, the eldest son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and incumbent chairperson Khaleda Zia, has been staying in London. The BNP spokesperson alleged that the government is annihilating democracy by reestablishing one-party Baksal rule, according to a news agency.