Dhaka, June 16 (UNB) – BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the government resorted to torture on opposition as it has become politically bankrupt.

“The government is trying to suppress the opposition as it has become politically bankrupt. They (govt) have lost public support so they’ve taken the path of repression and suppression.  The arrest of top opposition leaders in false cases is the manifestation of the government’s repressive attitude,” he said.

Mirza Fakhrul was talking to reporters after placing wreaths at the grave of party founder late president Ziaur Rahman with the just released BNP leaders from jail.

Thirteen opposition leaders, including Fakhrul, were released from different jails of the country on Thursday, after a Dhaka court granted them bail until July 26 in a case for twin blast incidents at the Secretariat.

The BNP spokesman alleged that the government rearrested some of the opposition alliance leaders at the jail gate soon after they were freed on bail granted by the courts. “This is how the government is destroying democracy,” he said venting dissatisfaction.

About Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s remarks that the opposition leader wants to take Bangladesh backwards, Fakhrul, also a former minister, said her advisers misguide her. “The opposition leader said to turn the country a higher-middle income by 2030. There’s a difference between middle-income and higher-middle income country,” he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday alleged that the opposition leader wants to put Bangladesh backwards as she had promised to make the country a middle-income one by 2030 against the Awami League-led Grand Alliance government’s timeframe of 2021.

The premier brought the allegation while inaugurating the three-month tree plantation programme at a function at her official residence Ganobhaban.

Responding to a question, the BNP leader said those who are conspiring to split BNP would note be successful. “The party will be more united and get stronger and the opposition alliance will be extended further.”   

He said BNP hopes that the government would bring back a democratic atmosphere in the country through restoring the non-party caretaker system within two months’ time set by the opposition leader.

“If the good sense doesn’t prevail upon them, the government will be compelled to restore the system (caretaker) through a harsher movement,” he said.

The other freed leaders, including Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, ASM Hannan Shah, Ruhul Kuddus Talukder Dulu, Amanullah Aman, Amanullah Najimuddin Alam and Fazlul Haq Milon, were present on the occasion.

BNP standing committee member Tariqul Islam, and Barrister Rafiqul Islam Miah, party vice-chairman Selima Rahman and opposition chief whip Zainul Abdin Farroque, among others, accompanied them.