Staff Reporter:
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday urged the government to identify and punish the real perpetrators of the brutal killing in Old Dhaka and other recent crime-related incidents based on prompt investigations.
“I urge the government to promptly investigate such incidents, identify the real culprits, and ensure that they are brought to justice,” he said.
“Otherwise, the nation will not forgive you and hold you responsible for creating these problems at a time when the country is being steered back onto the path of democracy,” he said while speaking at a programme of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal at a hotel in Gulshan, Dhaka.
Fakhrul made the remarks at a time when the sensational murder of scrap metal trader Lal Chand alias Sohag near Mitford Hospital shocked the nation.
Public criticism is mounting against the BNP as members of its associate bodies were allegedly involved in the brutal killing.
Meanwhile, the BNP expelled the accused activists of the Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, Jatiyatabadi Swechchhasebak Dal, and Chhatra Dal for life over the murder.
As an instant reaction, Rajjob Ali Pintu, assistant secretary for climate affairs of the Jubo Dal central executive committee, Sabah Karim Laki, joint convener of Dhaka South Jubo Dal, and Kalu alias Swechchhasebak Kalu were expelled in the same incident.
On 9 July, a group of assailants hit Sohag with large chunks of concrete and beat him to death in broad daylight for allegedly refusing to pay extortion money.
At the programme on Saturday, Fakhrul said the BNP does not support any wrongdoing.
He urged the party leaders and activists who have made sacrifices to wait a little longer for the sake of democracy.
“Restrain everyone and ensure no one engages in any unlawful acts. The BNP upheld the rule of law in the past and will continue to do so.”
Calling for an early election, he said, “We want a swift election through a transformation of the state system and structure because there is no alternative to democracy. And the first step of democracy is an election.”
He said the absence of an election is causing the deterioration of law and order with criminals exploiting the situation.
