Robbery incidents reminding pre-1975 era: BNP

The BNP has blamed the government for ‘acute deterioration’ of law and order situation in Bangladesh.

A series of robberies in villages and towns remind one of pre-1975 era, the party’s spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon said at a press briefing in Dhaka on Friday.

He said robbery had become an epidemic in villages and towns while the women are being sexually assaulted quite regularly.

“Robbery has taken us back to the pre-1975 period. This is a matter of grave concern,” he said at the BNP headquarters in Naya Paltan.

Ripon said the party was being vocal on the issue only to alert the government and the law enforcers to contain crime and ensure people’s security.

The international affairs secretary also praised Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) for inviting Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders to their central council.

The BCL is the student front of the ruling Awami League while the JCD is its BNP counterpart.

“If Chhatra League and their guardian Awami League are sincere about this, it could augur well for the future of politics.”

The BCL invitation also prompted Ripon, a former JCD president, to demand the release of its serving President Rajib Ahsan.

“The government slapped a fabricated case against him to tarnish his image.”

He blamed the government for unequal laws for people in the government and for those in the opposition.

Ripon criticised the government’s ‘failure’ in improving the roads and highways, and preventing a number of deaths in road accidents.