BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday claimed opposition leaders and activists were being “disappeared” to stop criticism of the government’s “misdeeds.”
"The government has been in power for the last decade by introducing a culture of enforced disappearances. Since they have now become isolated from people, they are torturing people by continuing the culture of enforced disappearance, spreading fear and establishing a reign of terror,” he said.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, the BNP leader further said: “The government’s main motive behind this is to stop criticism of its misdeeds. The government is spreading panic among its dissidents and making them disappear. This is now seriously denting Bangladesh’s image.”
Fakhrul alleged five leaders of BNP - Leon Haque, Mamun Parvez Tanmoy, Towhidul Islam Hasib, Ferdous Majumder Masum and Selim Mia - have been missing since they were picked up by “plainclothes policemen” from different locations recently.
He said police have been denying reports of detaining the BNP leaders and saying that they do not have any information about the missing BNP men. “The families of those who have gone missing are very anxious and we are also worried about it."
The BNP leader said it is the full responsibility of the government to find out if anyone goes missing. “It is unimaginable that plainclothes police are picking up people who come out of the High Court after securing bail.”
Fakhrul said the reality now is that the government has become not only isolated from the people, but also politically bankrupt.
“They [the government] have politicized all the state institutions only to cling to power. I call upon the government to immediately find out about our missing leaders and activists.”
He also demanded the government release those who have been arrested on “false” charges and the withdrawal of the “false” cases filed against them.
The BNP leader alleged that the “government’s agents” torched several vehicles in the city on November 12 last as part of their long standing efforts to eliminate BNP from politics and cement one-party rule.
