Defending the party’s strategy of announcing programmes through video messages, main opposition BNP on Thursday claimed that the government had not left any space for holding a press conference.
“That is why we were compelled to announce programmes through video messages. The government has created Afghanistan-like situation in the country,” Salahuddin Ahmed, party’s joint secretary general, claimed at a press release.
He, however, hoped that the government would come to the path of peace and accept the demand of holding the upcoming election under a non-partisan government by suspending the election schedule.
After the arrest of Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi at the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters in the capital, Salahuddin was assigned with the duties of the party’s spokesperson.
He took the charge but did not go to the central office rather took the strategy of releasing video message to inform people and the media about the party’s stance – a rare instance in the recent history of politics.
Criticising Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her comment that the opposition party was waging movement through video messages like what al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden had done, Salahuddin said the government had been curtailing all the fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution.
“All the constitutional provisions, rules and democratic conditions no longer exist,” he said claiming that police were killing the “fellows of democratic movement” indiscriminately.
“Opposition leaders are on the run as dozens of cases have been filed against each of them,” he claimed demanding immediate release of the arrested leaders and activists and withdrawal of the “false” cases filed against them.