Govt convicting BNP leaders as per master plan: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Wednesday alleged that the government has taken a ‘terrible master plan’ to remove the leaders of the opposition parties from the election field.

“When death nears and there is no hope of survival, many people try to hold on to something to stay alive. So, the sentences against the opposition leaders is part of their (govt’s) plan to completely destroy the politics of Bangladesh, depoliticise the country and remove the politicians from the field of politics and cross the election hurdle alone,” he said.

Speaking at a press conference, the BNP leader said they have heard that the government has chosen to dispose of about 1,350 cases for jailing the opposition leaders before the next general election.

“The accused in each of the cases are the top leaders of opposition parties, including BNP. They (govt) have been now in the field with this terrible plan,” he said.

Fakhrul said the government is thinking that the senior opposition leaders will not be able to participate in the election if they are arrested and sentenced.

He said the ruling party leaders talk about the election as per the constitution since they have created a scope to play a one-sided game and score alone by amending the national charter as per their wish. “They’ll stay in power through a game (in the name of election) without any opponent. They’re moving towards that goal.”

BNP arranged the press conference at the party’s Nayapaltan central office to protest the hearing on a graft case filed against its acting chairman Tarique Rahman and his wife Zubaida Rahman, and the High Court’s verdicts against party leaders Iqbal Hasan Mahmood Tuku, Amanullah Aman and his wife Sabera Aman in separate corruption cases.