The Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary-general on Thursday complained that the allegations against police personnel in the case on Feni madrassah student Nusrat Jahan Rafi murder were not ‘counted’ as the government was dependant on cops.
He made the comment while responding to reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after landing there from a flight from Australia.
The BNP leader had gone to Singapore on October 3 for treatment and two days later to Australia where his elder daughter lives. Fakhrul joined the ‘Asia Pacific Democratic Union’ there as its vice-chairman.
Asked for his reaction about not taking into account the allegations against cops in Nusrat murder case verdict, he said, ‘This proved that the government did not count the allegations against the cops as they are dependent on them.’
‘This government is not an elected one. They have no mandate from the people. They are in power by force. They are indulging in such criminalisation to remain in power by force,’ he said.
A court in Feni on Thursday sentenced all the 16 accused to death in the case over murdering Nusrat by setting her afire in early April.
She was murdered as she refused to withdraw the March 27 case filed against her madrassah principal SM Sirajuddoula for sexually harassing her.
The murder triggered widespread outrage and civic groups demanded bringing the cops concerned to book as they dilly-dallied in recording the case and then Feni police station officer-in-charge Mouazzem Hossain allegedly illegally videoed Nusrat’s statement and published it online.
Asked for his comments about Workers Party president Rashed Khan Menon’s remark that the people could not cast their votes in December 30 national elections, he thanked Menon for speaking the truth, though belated.
‘After such statement, the government should step down,’ he added.
He termed the government’s ongoing anti-corruption drive as a‘total eyewash’.
Fakhrul said that the police firing on the ‘peaceful rally’ protesting against hurting religious sentiment in Bhola, which left four killed and scores injured, was shocking and unacceptable.
