14-party alliance to hold human chains against secret killings

Leaders and activists of the ruling Awami League-led 14-party alliance are going to hold human chains in Dhaka and the rest of the country demanding to end secret killings. The event is set to take place on June 19 from 3pm to 4pm. Besides, leaders of the alliance will visit the family of slain Hindu priest Gopal Ganguli in Jhenaidah on June 14. The alliance's spokesperson and Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammad Nasim made the announcement at a press briefing following a meeting of the alliance leaders at Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina's office in Dhanmondi, Dhaka on Friday. Speaking to reporters, Nasim, also a presidium member of the Awami League, alleged that the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami were responsible for the recent killings. “The 14-party alliance will work to prevent any more killings from happening, just as it did during the political unrest of 2015 to prevent arson attacks and killings by the BNP-Jamaat,” he said. Earlier, denying BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia's allegation that the Awami League was responsible for the spate of killings across the country, Awami League leader HT Imam said Khaleda was trying to hide her own involvement in these heinous crimes. Speaking with reporters at the press briefing, Imam, who is the chairman of Awami League's Publicity and Publication Cell, said: “Khaleda is trying to keep the conspiracy she hatched with Jamaat under wraps. But it is crystal clear to the country as to who is committing the murders.” Imam, also the PM's political adviser, claimed that various intelligence agencies have found evidence of BNP-Jamaat's involvement in the killings. “We have already identified the criminals and their leaders. So none of her [Khaleda's] techniques can save the criminals,” Imam said. In a separate press conference, Awami League Presidium Member Sheikh Fajlul Karim Selim also said every killer has been identified and will immediately put on trial. Both the press conferences were organised in preparation for the Awami League's 20th National Council scheduled on July 10-11.