BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said around 3,000 people were victims of extra judicial killing carried out by law enforcing agencies under the incumbent government from January 2009 to December 2019.

Moreover, 124 people suffered the same fate from January to June this year, and most of them are opposition leaders and activists, he also said.

The BNP leader made the remarks at a virtual press conference from his residence in Uttara area of the capital around 11:30 am on Thursday.

Fakhrul said: “A total of 795 people died in jail custody in the last 10 years while 601 faced force disappearance. Some 7,806 women were raped, 1,934 children were abused and 18 children were killed.”

Apart from that, more than 100,000 political cases were lodged against leaders and activists of BNP in this 10-year period, he said. 

“Recently, the family of slain Army Major Sinha filed a case against police for killing him. Many families do not even dare to file case against police. However, Sinha’s family got the courage to seek justice as retired Army officials and the whole nation protested the incident. We (BNP) also want justice for his murder. We also believe that trial for all extra judicial killings will be held on this soil one day,” he said.

Mentioning that extra judicial killings and forced disappearance are against the spirit of Liberation War, Fakhrul said: “Our constitution does not support such acts. These can be considered as crimes against humanity according to the International Crimes Tribunal Act, 1973.”

“The ruling Awami League government has taken a position against the spirit of Liberation War and the constitution. They are walking road of autocracy rather than democracy. We demand a stop to the extra judicial killings and forced disappearance. We demand constitutional governance and justice for the wrongdoings,” he added.

BDST: 1848 HRS, AUG 13, 2020
AP/SMS