‘What help can the ruling party give to heavily-armed security forces?’

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi decried the involvement of ruling party on the streets claiming to help law enforcement agencies maintain law and order on Thursday, ahead of a court verdict regarding BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Rizvi, a joint secretary general of the party, said at a press conference at the party office: “Police, RAB, and other law enforcement agencies are heavily armed, in what capacity can ruling party activists help them?” The BNP joint secretary general cited Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader, who on Tuesday said that Awami League activists would not assist the law enforcement agencies on the day of the verdict. Armed police maintain position outside the BNP party office in Naya Paltan on the morning of February 8, 2018Dhaka TribuneRizvi said: “But later he said Awami League will help the law enforcement agencies on the streets. He contradicted himself.” He continued that Awami League’s presence on the streets is intimidating BNP activists and the common people alike.

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He also emphasized the Awami League processions and motorcades in front of the BNP party office, which is in violation of the DMP ban on public gatherings in the city. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Kallyan Party Chief Major (retd) Ibrahim were among the other leaders present at the meeting. Earlier on Thursday morning, Ataur Rahman Dhali – advisor to Khaleda Zia – was arrested from Naya Paltan but was released after half an hour of detention.