Govt trying to suppress movement by jailing BNP leaders: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday alleged that the government is trying to suppress the ongoing movement of people by sending opposition leaders and activists to jail and establishing its control on the state machinery.

He also said a fierce movement is the only option for the BNP to realise its 10-point demand as there is no chance of prevailing good sense upon the current regime.

Talking to reporters after placing wreaths at the grave of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, Fakhrul made remarks while giving the party’s reaction to the High Court verdicts that upheld the jail term of BNP leaders Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, Amanullah Aman and his wife Sabera Aman in separate corruption cases.

“These verdicts have manifested that the government has grabbed the entire state machinery, including the judiciary. They are trying to subdue the democratic movement by sending the opposition leaders and activists to jail with dictated verdicts,” he said.

The BNP leader strongly denounced the apex court verdicts against Tuku, Aman and Sabera. “We think these are dictated judgment. The democratic movement can never be stopped by such judgments. People must realise their rights."

Fakhrul together with BNP leaders and activists placed wreaths at Zia’s grave in the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, marking the 42nd death anniversary of the party founder.

Earlier in the day, a High Conch bench of Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat upheld the jail term of BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hassan Mahmood Tuku, and party’s Dhaka north city unit convener Amanullah Aman and his wife Sabera Aman in separate graft cases.