Law enforcers have licence to kill: BNP

The BNP has accused the government of giving law-enforcing agencies ‘licence to kill’ to thwart its blockade called to press for a snap election.

“The law enforcers are killing opposition activists in fake encounters,” Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed in a statement on Wednesday.

His party is simultaneously enforcing a two-day general strike in Dhaka and Khulna divisions, alongside a violent blockade, protesting against 'oppression' of party activists by the joint forces.

At least 30 people have died in blockade-related violence since Khaleda Zia called it on Jan 5.

Wednesday’s statement issued on the party’s letterhead protested the deaths of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader Nuruzzaman Jony and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Imrul Kayes, also a Ward Councillor from Narail.

Police said Jony, 30, was involved in the bombing of a police vehicle at Shahbagh during the ongoing blockade while Kayes, 38, was accused of attacking police.

Rizvi continued: “The government has given these agencies licence to kill only to stop the opposition’s ongoing movement.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday told Parliament that Khaleda would be held responsible for these deaths.

The BNP and the government blame each other for the deadly attacks.

Rizvi, who is in hiding, claimed the government was executing acts of sabotage and then was letting the media run reports putting blame on the opposition.

“The only way to solve this crisis is for the government to step down and organise an election under a non-party government,” the BNP leader added.