Fakhrul fears if anti-drug drive to be used to eliminate opposition

Country’s principal opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) alleged on Wednesday that the government is carrying out anti-narcotic drive ostensibly to create panic among people to gain political leverage ahead of the national polls.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the remarks while talking to reporters at his residence in Thakurgaon Wednesday, according to UNB news agency.

The BNP leader said that the eradication of drug abuse is possible with a ‘non-political’ drive and enforcement of law, and it is not possible with ‘crossfire’.

“Killing people in crossfire in the name of anti-narcotics drive should not take place in a civilised country,” he said.

He said the BNP also wants that the country gets rid of narcotics.

“But this has to be done by a non-political drive and legal means. The offenders must be brought to justice instead of killing in crossfire.”

The BNP secretary general said law enforcers killed Chhatra Dal activist Amzad Hossain in the name of gunfight in Netrakona branding him as a drug peddler, though he was not involved with drug peddling.

Fakhrul also voiced his fear whether the drive would eventually be used to eliminate the opposition as many of their leaders and activists are facing political cases across the country.

“We have been observing over the last nine years that the government is using law enforcers only to suppress and eliminate the opposition.”

About the Gazipur polls, Fakhrul said their many of their party leaders and activists were arrested ahead of the 26 June election.

The BNP leader also renewed their party’s demand for withdrawal of Gazipur SP Harun-ar-Rashid for the sake of a credible election.

“A fair and credible election is not possible in Gazipur keeping him (Harun’s) in his position.”

He said their party is joining the local body elections only to expose how the government has destroyed the lection process.

Fakhrul also said journalists are now passing through the most critical time in the country as they cannot write true stories due to the government’s pressure.

He said they have got information that some journalists were sacked for speaking the truth during the Khulna city polls.

 He urged all to get united to restore democracy and establish a pro-people government by forcing the government to hold the next election under a non-party neutral administration.