Stop misusing law against political opponents

Misuse of the law to suppress political opponents is unacceptable. This is particularly pertinent during the election. Misusing the law against the opposition leaders and activists has become more apparent than ever at a time when the whole country is looking forward to free and fair polls this month.

The opposition candidates are being deprived of a level playing field, that is, equal opportunity to contest the polls. The fairness and credibility of the polls will be debatable if the political opponents are harassed in false cases ahead of election.

A case filed against BNP-nominated candidate Khairul Kabir in Narsingdi-1 is as an instance of such abuse of the law to harass political opponents.

A total of 27 BNP leaders and activists were named in a case filed under section 16 (2) of the Special Powers Act on 8 February. Khairul’s name was not in the list initially.

The police filed a charge sheet against 273 accused including Khairul Kabir on 25 November. Khairul, along with two other accused, surrendered before the court on 29 November and sought bail.

Khairul was sent to jail while the two others were granted bail.

Ironically, the case was filed under a section that was 27 years ago.

The reason for this misuse of law against Khairul Kabir is very likely to be his nomination as a BNP candidate in the forthcoming parliamentary elections.

There are three candidates from the BNP camp, each of whom has more than 200 cases against them.

BNP’s youth wing Jubo Dal president Saiful Alam, also a candidate in Dhaka-12 constituency, is accused in 267 cases in various police stations. At least five BNP candidates are accused in more than 100 cases each.

There are 46 cases against BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

A case can certainly be file against any criminal, but questions arise when there are over a hundred cases against a political leader. Several media reports show that a number of ‘fictitious’ cases have been filed to harass the political opponents.

The enforcement will lose its moral stance if they keep filing false cases or arresting and harassing people at the behest of a political government.

Unfortunately, that is what is happening now in our country.

The 2014 election was not accepted at any level nationally or internationally as the significant opposition BNP did not participate.

The party, however, is ready to contest the polls this time along with Jatiya Oikya Front and already finalised its 206 candidates in various constituencies.

Most of these candidates are accused in several cases. It will convey negative message to the people if these cases are used to harass them.

Any intention to defeat the electoral opponents by misusing laws should be discarded.