BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia heavily criticised police brutality against the protesters of the Pohela Boishakh sexual assault on Sunday.
“Can we not even protest sexual harassment? Is this what our freedom fighters fought a war for?” she said while addressing a delegation of lawyers at her Gulshan office last night.
The incident, especially of a female protester getting beaten up by police, triggered widespread criticism around the country.
The protesters, gathered under Bangladesh Chhatra Union, were set to besiege the police headquarters on Sunday, but police came down heavily on them with tear gas, a water cannon and physical assault.
Adding on to the criticism, Khaleda also said the way police hit the protesters' head was dangerous, because that could cause severe injuries.
She also said the government was shameless in failing to provide security to the country's women, and the Pohela Boishakh incident was a national disgrace.
“The government is using law enforcers for their own selfish purposes. The Rapid Action Battalion is now used for political purposes.
“The country is on the verge of destruction. They [the ruling party] have taken up corruption to amass wealth for themselves.”
They have also given Chhatra League and Jubo League free reign to do whatever they please, she said.
