Attack on Fakhrul govt-sponsored

BNP yesterday alleged that the attack on party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam's motorcade was carried out following instructions from the high-ups of the Awami League-led government.

Addressing a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan headquarters, BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the attack was “violent and aggressive".

He also accused the government of "resorting to terrorism". Terrorists get motivated through the “provocation” by the most powerful person of the state, he said, without referring to anyone.

“Those who can travel abroad leaving the helpless disaster-affected people can do anything bad. People have seen a new and desperate form of terrorism of the government because of the way the ruling party men attacked BNP secretary general's motorcade on his way to Rangamati with relief materials,” he said.

Rizvi said police arrested their party men on Sunday as they took out processions protesting the attack on their leaders.

The motorcade of Fakhrul was attacked in Chittagong on Sunday allegedly by Awami League men when he was going to visit the landslide victims in Rangamati. At least seven BNP leaders, including Fakhrul, were hurt and five vehicles vandalised.