BNP is compiling a blacklist of its persecutors, says Rizvi

The BNP is compiling a list of those persecuting its supporters, says the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

The Awami League is using law enforcement agencies and Awami League activists for persecution so that it can cling onto power, he said at a press conference at the BNP headquarters in Dhaka’s Naya Paltan on Saturday.

“Once again I would like to call upon them to stop persecution. They believe that the people have buried their heads in the sand and do not notice. This is not the case. A blacklist is being made. No mercy will be shown to those who have wronged and persecuted us.”

News of disappearances and unlawful killings fill the papers every day, he said.

“One day [the ruling party] will have to pay for this oppression, this injustice, for this violation of humanity You must face justice for your inhumane acts.”

Police are even attempting to spoil the iftar gatherings of opposition party activists, Rizvi said.

“They are not allowing opposition activists to practise their religion in the month of Ramadan. They are attacking us, kidnapping us, bleeding us.”

“And then they file cases against the opposition activists. Law enforcers vandalise their homes in the guise of conducting searches. The police are now just an extension of the ruling party. They are one and the same.”

Rizvi also accused the government of ‘murdering ordinary people’ by ‘framing them for robbery and terrorism in shootouts’.

The reports of ‘shootouts’ have become so common that they are not believed by anyone, he said.

Rizvi also demanded the ‘return’ of Chhatra Dal activist Siddikur Rahman Nahid and his cousin Waziullah Lal, who he said had been picked up on Thursday and have not been heard of ever since.