Govt plotting to wipe out BNP: Fakhrul

The government has charged 41 leaders and activists in a 'false case' as a part of the 'conspiracy to wipe out' the BNP, the party alleges.

Its acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday said, "Starting from 2008, numerous cases have been filed against BNP leaders until now. The aim is to keep BNP away from polls and annihilate the party."

He alleged that as part of this attempt he and other party activists were named in the charge-sheets submitted to Dhaka's Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

The government wants to establish a one-party rule in the country, he said.

One of the charge-sheets accuses the politicians of attack on police and vandalism during a protest on Mar 2, 2013.

The other presses charges under the Explosives Act.

In March 2013, during BNP’s ongoing movement for election under caretaker government, a procession of the party ravaged the Mouchak, Malibagh and Shantinagar area.

After a clash with police they set fire to a private car in front of Hosaf Tower in Malibagh.

Police filed the two cases against Mirza Fakhrul and the others at Ramna Police Station after that incident.

Other senior leaders named in the charge-sheets include Standing Committee members Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman, Joint Secretaries-General Aman Ullah Aman and Barkatullah Bulu, Secretary for Student Affairs Shahiduddin Chowdhury Annie, Juba Dal President Moazzem Hossain Alal, General Secretary Saiful Alam Nirob and Swecchashebak Dal President Habib-un Nabi Khan Sohel.

Mirza Fakhrul spoke with reporters on Wednesday after paying respects at the grave of late president Ziaur Rahman at the capital's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar along with party supporters to mark the founding anniversary of pro-BNP doctors' organisation Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB).

The BNP spokesperson said the government had filed false cases against Chairperson Khaleda Zia and Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman to repress the opposition.

Standing Committee member Khandker Mosharraf Hossain is also in jail in a false case, Fakhrul said.

"He is not released even after he secured bail from the High Court."

Regarding the party's upcoming movement, he said, "A movement is not a matter of a moment. Its an ongoing process."

"Our movement for elections under a non-party government is going on and will continue."

Fakhrul said the fresh plans will be finalised after meetings of the party's policymaking body, National Standing Committee, and leaders of the 20-Party Alliance.