Bangladesh has become a ‘police state’, BNP chief Khaleda says

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has alleged that people from all religions are ‘being oppressed’ as, in her words, Bangladesh has become a police state under the rule of the current Awami League government.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 22 June 2016, 05:48 PM
Updated : 22 June 2016, 05:53 PM

“This state is not a democratic state now. It has become a police state,” she said at an Iftar party on Wednesday.

“Everything is being run under the police. They (police) are picking up and killing in crossfire whoever they want to,” she added.

The BNP chief alleged people are ‘being oppressed for protesting the wrongdoings of the police’.

“There is no rule of law. The judiciary is not acting impartially,” she added.

Khaleda said people from all religions were ‘suffering’ and urged them all to get united to ‘protect the country’.

“Today it’s time to get united by forgetting partisanship,” she said.

“People from all religions are being subjected to oppression. So I urge all Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians…all to get united for their own safety, to protect their families,” she added.

The former prime minister said the government was ‘indifferent’ to the ‘killings of Bangladeshis by the border security agency of a neighbouring country’. She did not name the country. 

Khaleda said the Awami League government ‘doesn’t have the courage to protest killings along the border’.

She added, “Even Myanmar is carrying out attacks on Bangladesh. Helicopters from Myanmar are breaching our airspace. But BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) is helpless after killing the people of their own country.”

The pro-BNP organisation Doctors Association of Bangladesh organised the Iftar gathering.