Attackers belong to Awami League: Rizvi

A BNP leader says those who vandalised and torched police cars during Wednesday’s clashes were the activists of the Awami League and its student wing Chhatra League.

‘‘It was the Awami League and Chhatra League men who did all the damage under police protection. There has been specific proof in the media that these people were leaders of Chhatra League and Jubo League,” BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said at a media briefing in Dhaka on Thursday.

Photos and videos of a man setting fire to a police car have gone viral on the social media.

Rizvi claimed the man was a Bangladesh Chhatra League leader named ‘Apu’, but the police have identified him as Shahjalal Khandaker Kabir, a member of the convening committee of Jatiyabadi Chhatra Dal’s Paltan unit.

JCD is the BNP’s student front while BCL is the ruling Awami League’s student affiliate.    

The BNP said it was a matter of concern that the Election Commission did not issue any order to deposit firearms after it announced the election schedule. It claimed the Awami League leaders and activists own “legal and illegal” firearms.

“It is clear that the commission is working to serve the interest of the government,” Rizvi said.

“The EC has remained mum on firearms, though it is an important issue during the election. This proves that the EC is preparing the election field for a specific party.”

The commission is issuing inconsistent statements. They said the Paltan “showdown” was not against the code of conduct, according to Rizvi.

“Then why did the police attack the BNP leaders and activists? Who ordered them to commit such a heinous act?” he said.

“The people believe it is Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader who ordered the police to spray the BNP leaders and activists with bullets,” Rizvi said. 

“It is the first step in their plot to wipe out the opposition and win an election uncontested. They engaged the police and Awami League activists to create violence in front of the BNP office. The police started the troubles by driving a car into a crowd. At least 20 leaders and activists were injured when the car ran over them,” he said. 

‘‘Why did the police move away from their vehicles? Because it was done by the police. Who was the man in helmet on the police car?”