BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has condemned arrest of her party’s acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and demanded his ‘immediate’ release.
Published : 06 Jan 2015, 08:10 PM
“The government has indulged in an arrest spree,” she said in a statement on Tuesday afternoon following the arrest of Fakhrul at the National Press Club.
“After confining me to my political office, the present illegal, fascist government has arrested the party acting secretary general and has gone on an arrest spree.
“Not only opposition leaders and activists, but the people, too, are now spending their days in police terror,” she added.
Khaleda’s office has been surrounded by police since Saturday night and they have stopped the former prime minister from leaving the premises.
The government, however, does not accept this as a forcible confinement and says that the 'security measures' have been put in place as Khaleda faces 'risk'.
Fakhrul stayed overnight at the National Press Club after attending a discussion there. Police arrested him on his coming out of the club on Tuesday afternoon.
Khaleda in her statement said the government that did not have the slightest support of the people had intensified repression on the people by law-enforcing agencies abusing its powers.
She urged all to raise voice against the government.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, however, said on Sunday that Khaleda was staging a drama by staying in her office and that the BNP chief was free to leave anytime.
In another statement, Khaleda condemned the arrest of Ekushey TV Chairman Abdus Salam ‘in a fabricated case’ and demanded his release.