BNP blames AL, police for foiling iftar parties

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi alleged that the ruling Awami League, along with the police, are attacking their iftar parties in different parts of the country, reports the Bangla Tribune. “They [ruling party men and police] are even attacking our leaders and activists at their homes. They are also threatening our followers with cases under the Speedy Trial Act,” the BNP leader said while briefing the media on Saturday. “Armed members of Chhatra League on Friday stormed an iftar party in Narsingdi where our leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan attended,” he said, adding, police attacked the iftar party that Madaripur BNP leader Iajjem Hossain had hosted at his home. According to Rizvi, another iftar party organised by BNP men in Dohar, Dhaka, was interrupted recently. “BNP leaders and activists are being denied permission to hold iftar parties across the country. In many places, police, colluding with Awami League men, are attacking our followers,” he added. “It seems as if the police are performing the organisational duties of Awami League. And, we strongly condemn such acts,” he said. He also said police are harassing BNP and its associate organisation leaders and activists and threatening them with cases, especially under the Speedy Trial Act.