The main opposition BNP yesterday said the government had turned Satkhira into a “death valley” in the name of joint forces’ operation.
“Police, joint forces and ruling party men are together killing, arresting and repressing opposition leaders and activists across the country. Thousands of opposition men are now behind bars.
“Satkhira has turned into a death valley – completely destroyed – because of the joint operations in the past three days,” Nazrul Islam Khan, BNP Standing Committee member, told reporters at a press briefing at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office.
He alleged that the government had made the “record of repressing people just to cling to power.”
He said: “Satkhira is burning, the air is filled with wails…A few thousands of people have lost their belongings. In the last five years, 216 cases were filed against 18-party leaders and activists in Satkhira.”
He asked the government to come to the path of compromise leaving the path of repression and suppression.
One was killed and 527 injured, three missing and 375 arrested on the third day of the ongoing nationwide blockade, he claimed.
On Awami League leader MK Alamgir’s request to the Election Commission on stopping to disclose ruling party candidates’ affidavits, the BNP leader said: “It is the responsibility of the Election Commission to inform the people about the candidates’ affidavits. The media can publish it. We are observing whether the Election Commission accepts the illegal demands of the ruling party.”