The BNP questioned the death of a youth in Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) custody after the suicidal attack on its Ashkona barrack.Speaking at a discussion meeting, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also questioned whether such youths are being killed after branding them as militants after lifting them or militancy is being exposed.
National People’s Party, (NPP), an ally of the BNP-led 20-party alliance organized the meeting at Dhaka Reporters Unity with its chairman Fariduzzaman Farhad in the chair.
Quoting from a news from daily Prothom Alo on death of one Hanif Mridha, Mirza Alamgir demanded full explanation from the home minister about statements of RAB and family members of the deceased about the death.
“If the claim of his (Hanif) family members is true, then we are living in which country? Responsibility of a government law enforcing agency is to ensure security of the people and disclose appropriate information to the nation, then what is it?” he questioned.
After the suicidal attack on a RAB barrack in Ashkona on Friday, RAB had claimed that Hanif Mridha died of sickness but his family members claimed that he was taken away last month by some men identifying themselves as members of the law enforcing agencies.
The BNP secretary general demanded proper investigation into the incident and said many such incidents are happening.
“The law enforcers are claiming one thing but their family members are claiming of taking away from their homes. If the demands of the family members are appropriate may we claim that a deep conspiracy is going on,” he said.
He further said the government has indulged itself in dangerous game and nobody knows the consequence of it.
In a dairy, lodged by Hanif’s brother with Siddhirganj Police Station on March 4, stated that Hanif along with one of his friends were taken away by some men identifying them members of law enforcing agencies from Kanchpur area on February 27.
The dead body of Hanif was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Saturday for autopsy. Then RAB claimed that he was arrested as a suspect after Friday’s suicidal attack. He was taken to Kurmitota Hospital after he fell sick and died there, said RAB.
Mirza Alamgir warned the government not to sign any agreement that endangers the country’s independence and sovereignty and goes against the interests of the people.
“We want fair share of Teesta water…We want solution to the other outstanding issues,” he added.
Mostafa Jamal Haider, Nitay Roy Chowdhury, Shafiul Alam Prodhan, Khandaker Lutfor Rahman and Mostafizur Rahman Iran, among others, also spoke on the occasion.
