Govt arresting leaders, activists to foil BNP’s revamp efforts, says Nazrul Islam Khan

The BNP has alleged its leaders and activists are being jailed and implicated in new cases to foil its grass-roots level revamp efforts.

The party’s Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan in a media conference at its Naya Paltan headquarters on Tuesday wondered if the government “would let others take part in politics”.
 
He said a case was filed against leaders in Jessore, including ‘ailing’ Standing Committee member Tariqul Islam, on ‘imaginary’ charges on Monday.
 
“On the same day, in Bhola, police arrested 20 people who had met to discuss the revamp. The leaders at Sandwip, in Chittagong, and Keraniganj were sent to jail when they went to appear before court,” Khan said.
 
“We want the government to make it clear whether it will let others do politics as well,” he added.
 
Referring to the introduction of one-party rule through the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution in 1975, the BNP leader said the then government was ‘at least honest to pass a law saying no one else would be allowed to take part in politics in the country’.
 
“I don’t see that honesty now. They are not saying it or passing a law, but are running the country in a manner that keeps others from politics,” Khan said.
 
“It’s a crime,” he felt. 
 
He demanded the immediate release of party leaders and activists and the withdrawal of cases against them.