The main opposition BNP on Tursday warned law enforcers they will face trial for their roles as a “killer force” to repress the opposition’s ongoing political movement.
Talking to journalists, BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed his party had evidence of the degree of “excesses” used by each force in “suppressing” the opposition men.
“You have to face trial for your role as a killer force,” Rizvi said at a media briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters.
Informing the media about the first day of the opposition alliance’s blockade programme, he said the prevailing political crisis would end “only after the resignation of the prime minister from office.”
Rizvi claimed that four had been killed and 1,100 injured during the blockade programme while more than 400 party leaders and activists had been arrested and cases had been filed against 4,000 men across the country.
Party sources meanwhile said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia might hold a press conference and announce the next course of action if no understanding was reached by this week.
They said no programme had been announced for Thursday as the party wanted to observe the situation currently prevailing in the country.
A senior leader told the Dhaka Tribune that the opposition party might announce hartal or decide to besiege the Election Commission office “depending on the attitude of the administration.”
After the announcement of the polls schedule on Monday, the BNP-led 18-party alliance called a 48-hour nationwide rail, road and river route blockade, demanding suspension of the election schedule.
A large number of law enforcers were seen around the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters from early in the morning. However, none of the party leaders and activists were seen entering or exiting the office.
Criticising the government’s rigid stance on holding elections unilaterally, Rizvi said: “There is no sign from the government side for compromising on the issue of polls-time government. There will be compromise and differences of opinion in politics but being obstinate does not go with democracy.”
He expressed hope that the government’s good sense would prevail soon and the path of compromise would open.
He alleged that students’ lives had been hampered because of the announcement of the polls schedule rather than the political programmes of the opposition parties.
“The subservient Election Commission announced the polls schedule and pushed the country towards confrontation. The election schedule is a joint mockery staged by the incumbent illegal government and the Election Commission,” Rizvi said