Dhaka-BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday reiterated her allegation that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina knows as to who are behind the recent killings but she is not taking them into custody.“The Awami League people are carrying out the recent spate of killings in a systematic way. That’s why the prime minister says she knows who the killers are. Indeed, she knows the real killers but she does not take them into custody rather innocence are being held,” she said while speaking at an iftar mahfil at Ladies Club in the city.
Bangladesh Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), an ally of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, organized the function with its acting chairman Dr TIM Fazle Rabbi in the chair.
The former premier alleged that the government wants to stay in power by taking people hostage.
“They (AL men) are killing people frequently but branding it to the BNP leaders and activists,” she said.
She said the BNP does not believe in politics of killing and the BNP activists are not involved in killing.
Khaleda alleged that the country’s prisons have no space to accommodate the large number of people being detained in the name of anti-militant drive.
She said as about 12,000 people have so far been arrested and most of them are innocent.
The BNP chief accused the government of killing people in the crossfire.
She alleged that country’s democracy and independence have been interned and said, “It is difficult to say whether the country’s independence and sovereignty are existing.”
Khaleda also expressed her doubts whether the AL is running the country or someone else is at the helm.
She alleged that people of any religion are not safe under this government and people from Hindu community are in particular have become the most victims of repression.
The former premier said people are waiting to see as to how the AL government would takes it leave.
She said the BNP would carry forward peaceful programme to restore the country’s democracy, rule of law and fundamental rights.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and BJP secretary general Mostafa Jamal Haider also spoke on the occasion.-STAFF REPORTER
