The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has voiced deep concern over the recent arrests, detentions, and alleged torture of its leaders, activists, and ordinary citizens in the wake of violence following the anti-quota reform movement.
"The illegal Awami League government is indiscriminately arresting leaders and activists from opposition parties, including the BNP, and ordinary citizens, to cover up its terrorist activities and failures," BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said in a statement issued on Friday (26 July).
“Law enforcement agencies are conducting continuous raids on the homes of opposition leaders across the country,” said Mirza Fakhrul
He also highlighted the continuous raids on the homes of opposition leaders across the country by law enforcement agencies.
The secretary general said that the arrested leaders are being subjected to enforced disappearances and torture, and are being presented in court days later, which he described as a gross violation of law and human rights.
"A horrifying culture of enforced disappearances is being maintained to instill fear in the minds of the citizens. We call upon the government to refrain from such heinous activities," he added.
The BNP secretary general demanded the immediate withdrawal of the curfew and urged the government to resign immediately.
He called for the transfer of power to a non-partisan caretaker government to ensure the safety of people's lives and properties and to arrange for neutral elections.
The BNP Secretary General also demanded the withdrawal of false cases and the unconditional release of all arrested BNP leaders.
“The government, in collaboration with party thugs and law enforcement agencies, has brutally attacked students protesting against discrimination in public jobs. This act of violence has set a barbaric precedent, surpassing the cruelties of all dictatorships worldwide,” the statement added.
Mirza Fakhrul also called on all patriotic citizens, political parties, students, teachers, farmers, workers, and professionals to unite and engage in a relentless struggle to defeat the ruling group and establish a democratic governance system to protect the country's independence and sovereignty.
