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Online Desk/

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said, “Democratic rights including freedom of expression in Bangladesh are now wounded due to the brutal misrule of the government, oppression, persecution and violent attacks. The government is now using the language of guns against democratic people. Town after town BNP leaders and workers are bloody, killed, injured and maimed.

He said, “Thinking that the oppressed people and the opposition parties including BNP can no longer be suppressed, the government is now launching brutal attacks on any peaceful program with party cadres and law and order forces.”

BNP Secretary General said these things in a statement sent to the media on Saturday.

Fakhrul said, “By bankrupting the country’s economy, the rulers have wiped out democracy and democratic institutions through state terrorism in order to retain the illegal power so as not to lose the paradise of comfort and luxury that they have created through massive corruption. Free and fair elections have been made invisible by taking away people’s right to vote. People’s backs are against the wall due to unbridled inflation of daily essentials, fuel oil prices including gas, electricity and fuel without any reason. There is no alternative to the united movement of the people to get rid of this suffocating situation.

He also said, “All opposition political parties, including people of all democratic classes and professions, must come to the streets together.” No government can survive based on lawlessness. The fall of this government is imminent.

In a statement, BNP General Secretary said, “The police ambushed and fired indiscriminately during a peaceful rally of Khulna District and Metropolitan BNP held in front of the Khulna Press Club today.” Khulna Metropolitan BNP member and Metropolitan Volunteers Party General Secretary Farooq Hilton, Metropolitan BNP member and Sadar Thana BNP convener KM Humayon Kabir, District Juba Dal General Secretary Ebadul Haque Rubayet, Khulna Mahanagar Krishak Dal convener Akhtaruzzaman Sajib Talukdar and Ward No. 12 BNP convenor were shot dead. Convenor Zahidur Rahman Ripon, about a hundred leaders and activists and joint general secretary of Ward No. 22 Alif Milan, Russell, Suhrawardy College Chhatra Dal member secretary Rabbi Chowdhury, Chhatra Dal leader Md. Shahidul Molla and Md. The police arrested some leaders and activists including Sekendar Sheikh.

Also yesterday (Friday) and Saturday, member of Netrakona district BNP, former chairman of Upazila Parishad and former mayor of Kendua municipality, focused on public gathering. Delwar Hossain Bhuiyan Dulal, joint convener of Mohanganj upazila volunteer group. Sharif Miah, Ward No. 3 President of Suair Union BNP Yar Islam, General Secretary of Madan Upazila Jubo Dal. The police arrested 32 leaders and activists including Kabir and District Tanti Dal’s joint convener Lutfar Rahman Bhuiyan Liton.

The BNP Secretary General strongly condemned and protested against the “heinous attack, firing and mass arrest in Netrakona district by the police on peaceful public gatherings in Khulna district and the metropolis”.

In the statement, Mirza Fakhrul demanded the unconditional release of the arrested leaders in Khulna district, Khulna metropolis and Netrakona and wished for the speedy recovery of the leaders who were injured in police firing in Khulna district and metropolis and demanded the taking of legal action against the guilty policemen.