Chief Whip of the Opposition and National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Wednesday accused the ruling BNP of killing its own people, alleging that the “deteriorating” law-and-order situation has left ordinary people vulnerable to violence and injustice.
"How bad must the law-and-order situation have become for them to be killing their own people? Whether justice will be served for this is a question for me," Nahid said at a meeting with leaders of the Dhaka division (Southern Region) to discuss organizational progress and plans for the upcoming election.
Briefing journalists at the start of the meeting, he alleged that the judiciary remains under the “control of those in power as the justice system has not been reformed”.
Nahid alleged that cadres operating under BNP's patronage are killing even their own party men and torturing and oppressing ordinary people across the country.
"If we let this government off the hook, who knows, we may have to face another fascism. We do not want to have to overthrow another fascist regime at the cost of 1,400 lives again," he said.
Claiming that the country is turning into a "mafia state", the NCP leader said, "We wanted a neutral and strong position from the law enforcement agencies. But we see the IGP talking about crossfire. The home minister has completely failed to provide leadership. No action is being taken against the numerous drug spots that have been identified across the country. Bangladesh has effectively become a mafia state, which it already was – nothing has changed."
He alleged that while terrorists are armed, ministers and state ministers are also carrying “weapons”. "This is what is called a mafia state, where you have to confront arms with arms in your own hands," he said.
On drug trafficking, Nahid accused the government of failing to arrest the alleged godfathers of the trade, members of drug syndicates and political leaders linked to the business. "Unless this is done, it will not be possible to eliminate drugs," he said.
He also alleged that the largest volume of drug smuggling in Bangladesh takes place through Cox's Bazar, the home minister's constituency, yet he is unable to stop it even in his own area.
Referring to the upcoming local government elections, the NCP leader expressed his doubts about the polls being fair.
