Mass arrests, police action protested

Supreme Court Bar Association took out a procession in the city yesterday protesting mass arrests and police action on the opposition political activists. PHOTO: STAR

In a joint statement, leaders of these organisations demanded immediate resignation of the government for its failure to run the administration of the country.

They said the government has lost all moral rights to stay in power as it has completely failed to ensure security and constitutional rights of the people by foiling the programmes of the opposition parties.

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The leaders said the government has turned the country into a mass-prison misusing the section 54 and violating the court order.

The police have been collecting money forcibly from the arrested innocent people, they added.

The leaders said an anarchic situation has been prevailing in the country due to killing, looting, abduction, toll collection and price-hike of essentials.

They said the fall of the government is now a matter of time and a midterm election could only save the country from the gruesome situation.

The signatories to the statement included Vice President of Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association (BSCBA) Md Sirajul Haque, Secretary Bashir Ahmed, former president of the bar Abdul Baset Majumder, former vice-chancellor Prof AK Azad Chowdhury and Prof Mostofa Chowdhury of Dhaka University, Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury and Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, Altaf Mahmud and Shah Alamgir of Dhaka Union of Journalists, and Ramendu Majumder and Golam Kuddus of Sammilito Sangskritik Jote.

The BSCBA will hold a protest rally at the premises of samity tomorrow demanding an end to this dreadful situation.

Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) has demanded immediate release of all arrestees and implementation of the high court order.

In a statement, the ASK said the government did not pay any heed to the court orders for arresting people on suspicion.

Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association (BNWLA) condemned the attack and arrest of female activists during the recent agitation.

Expressing deep concern over the situation, the BNWLA said both the government and the opposition were responsible for the present situation.

Dhaka University Teachers' Association (Duta) said the government has unveiled its despotic character by arresting general public from bus stops, launch terminals and railway stations.

In a statement, Duta President Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique and General Secretary Prof Akhteruzzaman urged the government to put an end to mass arrest and torture of opposition activists.

Jatiya Mukti Council President Badruddin Umar and General Secretary Faizul Hakim, in a statement, protested the mass arrest to resist the movement of the opposition parties to dislodge the BNP-led coalition government.