BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday doubted that the government might have staged a ‘mysterious drama’ over the militant issue ahead of the upazila elections.
“The incident of militant snatching seems very mysterious just before the upazila elections. It might have been done to divert attention of the people of the country and the international community to a different direction,” he said.
The BNP leader came up with the remark at a press conference at the BNP’s Nayapaltan central office in the city.In a filmy-style attack on the prison van, a group of militants snatched three convicted JMB members — Rakib, Salahuddin and Boma Mizan — in Trishal upazila of Mymensingh, killing a police constable while they were being taken from Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur to Mymensingh court around 10am on Sunday.
Members of the elite force Rab recaptured one of the snatched convicts Rakib Hasan hours later from Taktarchala in Sakhipur of Tangail district while the two others are still at large.
Rakib was killed in police ‘crossfire’ in Tangail on Monday.
Rizvi said the BNP-Jamaat led four-party alliance government had carried out massive drive against the JMB militants, arrested and punished them during their tenure. “But where were they for that long period? We guess the government is staging a drama ahead of the election,” Rizvi added.
Pointing at the government, Rizvi alleged that the government is carrying out wholesale arrest and series attacks to bring the upazila election results in favour of them.
He warned of fresh action programmes if the repression and attacks on the opposition are not stopped. Rizvi said his party keeps counting every incident of harassment, attack and repression on the opposition leaders and activists.
“If such incidents are not stopped, people will give replies to the incidents,” he warned.
The BNP leader protested and condemned the sending of BNP leaders, including its joint secretary general Mizanur Rahman Minu and Rajshahi City Corporation mayor Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul, to jail cancelling their bail.
He alleged that residences of BNP-supported candidates are being attacked by ruling party cadres and police in the upazilas that are going to polls on February 27. The second phase elections in 117 upazila parishads will be held on February 27. – UNB
