‘733 BNP activists killed, 1.2m accused in 50,000 cases’

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Thursday demanded the government withdraw over 50,000 cases filed against its leaders and activists across the country to create a level-playing field before the 11th parliamentary elections.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the demand at a press conference at BNP's Naya Paltan headquarters.

He said around 50,074 cases have been filed against 1,191,449 BNP activists since 22 January from 2007.

He claimed some 3,947 BNP activists are currently behind bars.

Besides, the BNP leader said, their 733 leaders and activists were killed across the country during the period.

Fakhrul alleged that the government has intensified its efforts to arrest BNP men, implicate them in 'false' cases and kill them in crossfire in the New Year ahead of the next general election.

He said at least 528 cases were filed against 24,707 BNP leaders and activists while 1519 were arrested alone in the last one month.

Under the circumstances, the BNP leader said, it won’t be possible to create a level-playing field for the election.

"Equal opportunity must be created for all to hold the polls. All the false cases filed against us must be withdrawn and the continued repressive acts like crossfire, killing, enforced disappearances and wholesale arrest will have to be stopped."

Fakhrul alleged that the government is trying to eliminate its opponents using the state machinery in a planned way to hang onto power.

He called upon all to wake up for the 'restoration' of democracy and force the government to hold the next polls in a free, fair and credible manner under a neutral administration.

The BNP leader alleged that the law enforcers are indulging in 'arrest business' by filing cases against unidentified people.