Opposition increasingly suppressed as election nears: Rizvi

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday said that as the national election draws nearer, the 'illegal' government's partisan administration resorting to illegal cases, assaults, torture and widespread arrests against BNP leaders and activists.

“Meanwhile, the administration and law enforcement agencies have begun preparing for the operation, which is being reported in the media. The ruling illegal government has started filing false and fabricated cases against BNP leaders and activists across the country to protect its 'Takht-e-Taus' (Peacock Throne),” he said.

The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at its Nayapaltan central office.

Alleging that police are placing bombs to frame BNP leaders and activists, Rizvi said, “The clear evidence of that has been seen recently in the BNP central office where the police themselves entered with bombs to frame BNP leaders and activists. The video of the police entering the BNP central office with a bomb has gone viral.”

Rizvi said,”On Wednesday, the daily Samakal published an investigative report on missing and false cases under the headline 'Dead people, prisoners also throw cocktails!' It has been seen that dead persons in the capital have also been accused of cocktail explosions.”

They have also charged expatriates and prisoners on the same charges, he added.

Rizvi alleged the police have sought a budget of Tk 1,226 crore as their 'package cost' to make Awami League victorious in the upcoming 12th parliamentary elections.

Of this, Tk 158 crore will be spent to buy arms and ammunition in order to suppress opposition leaders and activists before the elections.