Government is looking for drug dealers in BNP, says Quader

Obaidul Quader has said the government is also searching for the people involved in drug trade from the BNP which has been vocal against the deaths in the ongoing crackdown on narcotics.

“Which party did Akram (Akramul Haque) belong to? Now the search is on for who amongst you (BNP) are also involved,” the ruling Awami League general secretary said while speaking about the BNP’s criticism at a programme in Dhaka on Tuesday.

Teknaf Councillor Akramul, a former leader of the Awami League’s youth front Juba League, was shot dead in what the RAB said was a gunfight during an anti-drug operation.

A gruesome audio released by his family and purportedly depicting the moments of his ‘execution-style killing’ has drawn fresh questions over the deaths in the war on drugs.

The BNP fears that the ruling party may use the crackdown to suppress dissent before election. It has demanded judicial investigation into the deaths in such operations as the toll has crossed 130 in around three weeks.

Quader said he saw a newspaper report that drug dealers were in the BNP’s committee for Dhaka City North unit.

He reiterated that the government was investigating Akramul killing and ‘will not spare anyone if found guilty’.   

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has repeatedly said that no one will be spared if a single innocent person is victimised in these operations,” he said.