Extortion in the name of crackdown on militants

Extortion is going on in the name of crackdown on militants across the country, said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday.

 "The real killers behind the secret killings are untouched while extortion [by the police] is going on," she said.

Khaleda made the remark while speaking at an Iftar party held at Bashundhara International Convention Centre. Association of Engineers Bangladesh, a pro-BNP professionals' body, organised the programme.

The BNP chief claimed that at least 2,200 party leaders and activists were arrested during the ongoing crackdown.

"She [Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina] assures foreigners that she would curb terrorism. But she won't do it actually. She wants to make the country unstable by spreading terrorism and allowing the rise of militancy," Khaleda said.

Khaleda said the prime minister claims to have information on the people who are carrying out militant activities. "Why is she not arresting them when she is aware of them? They're now arresting common people and leaders and activists of the BNP and other opposition parties by either hiding the perpetrators or sending them abroad."

The BNP chief also alleged that the government had turned the entire country into a jail and was harassing people in the holy month of Ramadan.

KHALEDA LAMBASTS JSD

Hinting at Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Khaleda said the real killers were with the Awami League.

"There are some people with the Awami League who are very experienced in killing and making people disappear," she claimed.

"The country is now in a very bad shape as Hasina is giving importance to those who had killed and had made many Awami League leaders and activists disappear after the country's Liberation War.

"They used to make indecent remarks about the Awami League leader [Bangabandhu]. But, forgetting this, Hasina is revaluating these killers, ignoring her own party men. That's why the country's condition is so bad."

She called upon the country's people to get united to restore democracy in the country.