BNP’s Mirza Fakhrul, Amir Khosru and Rizvi accused of ‘sabotageagainst the state’

Bangladesh Jananetri Parishad President AB Siddique has sought to file a case against three BNP leaders, including Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, over allegations of ‘sabotage and conspiracyagainst the state’.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate AHM Toaha did not directly accept the allegations as a case, but ordered the matter to be investigation by the Tejgaon Police Station.

AB Siddique made the allegations against BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmood Chowdhury and Joint Senior Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.

According to the appeal filed by Siddique, an audio clip of AmirKhosru Mahmood Chowdhury went viral on Aug 4. “He can beheard talking to an activist named Naomi in Cumilla. He toldNaomi to bring people to Dhaka and take to the streets.”

“In addition, Chhatra Dal activists infiltrated the road safety protests conducted by students under orders from Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. They attempted to create panic among the people and damage the reputation of the government by using Chhatra Dal activists to attack the Awami League offices in Jigatala, set fire to various vehicles and spread rumours of students being raped or killed.”

The appeal also sought arrest warrants to be issued against the three BNP leaders.

Student protesters have continued demonstrations since two college students were killed in a bus accident on Dhaka’s AirportRoad on Jul 29.

Buses have been vandalised and clashes have broken out between police, alleged Bangladesh Chhatra League activists and protesters amid the demonstrations.

An audio recording went viral on Facebook on Saturday amidst the protests. In the recording a voice can be heard ordering people to ‘join the protests’.

It was claimed that one of the speakers is BNP leader Amir Khosru Mahmood Chowdhury, while the other is a Cumilla BNP activist named Naomi. Naomi has been detained. Amir Khosru claims the audio is ‘manufactured’.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said at an event on Sunday that a‘third party’ was taking advantage of the student protests.

The home ministry has said attempts to ‘divert’ the studentprotests would be opposed firmly by the government.