New Market clashes expose govt’s complete failure: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Thursday police inaction to prevent the clashes between shopkeepers and Dhaka College students in the city's New Market area has proved there is no government in the country, reports UNB.
"This government has become a completely failed government, and it has also turned the country into a failed state. The two sides fought for hours in front of their (police's) eyes, but they didn't take any steps to stop the clashes," he said.
Talking to reporters at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman's grave, Fakhrul said police officers justified their action by saying that they played a neutral role.
"Playing a neutral role they helped deepen the problem and escalate the clashes. Police's inactive role is responsible for the violent clashes and the loss of lives," he added.
Earlier, Fakhrul along with the leaders of the new partial committee of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) paid homage to Zia by placing a wreath at his grave.
Fakhrul alleged the current Awami League government has obliterated democracy in a planned way after 'usurping' the state power by force.
He also alleged the government has completely failed to run the country and establish a democratic system. "This illegitimate government has snatched people's voting rights. The students are also being deprived of their basic rights to get education at minimum cost."
The BNP leader also alleged the law and order and economic situation have collapsed because of widespread corruption.
He said the government should step down immediately and hand over power to a neutral government, paving the way for holding an acceptable and participatory election.
He denounced German Ambassador in Dhaka Achim Troster's assertion that he was misquoted on democracy and human rights in Bangladesh after his meeting with the party's leaders last month.
"He (the ambassador) did not say it correctly. Our leader (Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury) who spoke after that meeting didn't say anything quoting the German Ambassador," said the BNP leader.
The ambassador, Fakhrul maintained, mistook it as misquoting him what Amir Khosru said in general terms about their meeting with the envoy.