Govt promoting officials involved in enforced disappearance: BNP

BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday alleged that the government is giving promotions to the officials involved in enforced disappearance and murders.

"Based on the Prime Minister's offer for tea, I would like to say the US State Department imposed sanctions on some officials for indulging in enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. But what did you (PM) do? You have recently promoted two people who are involved in such disappearance and murder,” he said, reports UNB.

Speaking at a human chain programme, he also said those who carry out the act of disappearance and murder in favour of the government are called Sheikh Hasina's `death squad'.

Stating that an ancient Greek philosopher was killed by giving him hemlock juice, Rizvi said, "You (Sheikh Hasina) are offering tea. There’s a question in people's minds what will be there in Sheikh Hasina's cups of tea? Whether there will be the juice of hemlock in that tea? Because we saw how she dealt with the opposition in the past."

He alleged that the current government has made disappearances, crossfires and killings a part of politics in running the state. “Everyone knows who are involved in killings and crossfire. In today's era of technology, everyone is also monitoring it internationally.”

Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal arranged the human chain programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the hike in prices of daily essentials and indecent comments against BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman by a ruling party leader.

Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she would offer BNP leaders to tea if they come to besiege her office (Prime Minister's Office).

"I will listen to them – whatever they want to say. I believe in democracy," she said while speaking at a meeting of Awami League's Dhaka North and South units.

Rizvi, the senior BNP joint secretary general, said the PM’s soft tone like offering tea to the protesters is not a good sign. “Why is your voice suddenly so soft? It's a strange thing. When the tone of your voice weakens, it is an indication that some more terrible torture is coming down on the opposition.”

Recalling that Hasina asked BNP to send the list of cases to her before the 2018 election, he said, “Then we saw you filed cases against us more extensively.”

The BNP leader alleged that the PM is allowing the plundering of public money in the name of mega projects as she has no love for people.