Govt cannot stop us with cases: Fakhrul

Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has warned that the BNP will not back down because of cases.

He has also alleged that although the ruling Awami League leaders were giving "unrestrained vulgar" statements, BNP leaders were being harassed when trying to reply.

Speaking at a meeting on Monday on the occasion of the party's founding anniversary, the BNP acting secretary general said, "Today they've filed a libel case against me. There is not one leader in the party who does not have cases against them. Some have up to 140 cases against them."

"I want to tell the government that they're living in fool's paradise if they think they can stop us with these cases. The nation will never accept their fascism and tyranny," he said.

After paying respects at the grave of party founder Ziaur Rahman in the morning led by Chairperson Khaleda Zia, BNP held a discussion on the founding anniversary in the afternoon.

Khaleda was absent but the front-row seat reserved for her was kept vacant.

Some hours before the meeting, a case was filed against Fakhrul for calling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a 'killer'.

Fakhrul said they way the ruling party leaders were hurling abuse was unparalleled in the world.

"When they talk they never pause to think that we might reply. Now they're persecuting and filing cases against us for answering," he said.

He criticised the government's running of the country and called for a strong movement to demand a non-party caretaker government.

"We must unite against this monstrous force. We must force the government to give early polls," Fakhrul said.