The main opposition BNP yesterday alleged that the government had been killing opposition leaders and activists using the joined forces “on the basis of a hit list.”
“Ruling party cadres have started attacking opposition men’s houses in different parts of the country in the presence of law enforcement agencies and killing opposition leaders and activists using the joint forces as per a hit list,” BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said yesterday.
At a press conference at the party chairperson’s Gulshan office, Nazrul claimed that at least 25 leaders and activists had been killed in the past few days in Lakshmipur, Joypurhat, Satkhira, Nilphamari, Noakhali, Lalmonirhat and Jessore.
He held the Election Commission, too, responsible for the “killings” as the joint force’s operation had been going since the announcement of the election schedule.
Nazrul said their movement and the dialogue process were centred on the 10th general elections. “No one is thinking about the 11th general elections except Obaidul Quader. We urge the important persons in the government to refrain from making such misleading speech,” he said.
Asked about the resolution passed by the Pakistan parliament over war criminal Quader Molla’s execution, Nazrul said the government had split the country to thwart people’s movement and “a country could pass such a proposal because of that.”
“The government should have protested much earlier. The BNP always demands trial of the war criminals but what the government is doing is trying the crimes against humanity. Trial of war criminals and that of crimes against humanity are not the same,” he said.
Replying to another query, Nazrul said: “There is still time for reaching an understanding. It is possible to hold the elections, cancelling the election schedule.”
