Govt trying to hold back BNP before polls: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today alleged that the government has increased the punishment of the Speedy Trial Act to put the BNP leaders and activists behind bars before the next general elections.

“The punishment under the Speedy Trial Act was two to five years in jail. Now it has been increased up to seven years. Awami League wants to convict the opposition leaders and activists before the next election and wants to hold an election like that of January 5,” he said.

He came up with the allegation while addressing a roundtable discussion organised by Doctors Association of Bangladesh (DAB) at Reporters Unity.

The cabinet on Monday approved in principle the draft of "The Law and Order Disruption (Speedy Trial) (Amendment) Act-2017" increasing the punishment up to seven-year jail sentence for law and order disruption-related crimes.

Fakhrul alleged that Awami League does not want to hold any election with the participation of BNP and the people of the country. “Because they know if there is a caretaker government, they will not be able to come to power.”