Police were trying to cover up their failures and hiding Chhatra League activists involved in the recent clashes between students and traders in Dhaka's New Market area, BNP General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said today (April 23, 2022).
BNP is deeply concerned and upset over the killing of two people and injuring many others including journalists, in a series of clashes in the New Market area, Fakhrul said, adding that this incident has proved how fragile Bangladesh's law and order situation is.
Fakhrul was speaking at a press conference held at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office today.
In the presence of police, there were horrific attacks and counter-attacks, men wearing helmets armed with deadly weapons beat people to death. People are doubtful about the role of police due to their inaction, he added.
BNP strongly condemns the arrest of BNP leader Makbul Hosain and the case against about 1,200 people, naming 24 BNP and its affiliated leaders and activists, instead of arresting the real culprits in connection with the clashes in New Market area, Fakhrul also said.
This arrest and case have once again proved that "Awami League government wants to perpetuate power by intimidation, torture, and murder", the BNP leader also said.
There will be protest meetings in all metropolitan cities including Dhaka on April 26 to demand release of Makbul and withdrawal of the "false" cases, he added.
