BBC Interview: PM ‘lied’ about polls, enforced disappearances

The BNP yesterday alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her interview with BBC lied about the enforced disappearance and election.

Speaking at a rally in the capital's Mohakhali, senior BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said, "The prime minister in her interview with BBC said fair elections take place under the Awami League government. Will any Bangladeshi believe the statement? Do you believe it? Do the ruling party men even believe it?"

The BNP standing committee member said the PM should have realised why and when a foreign prime minister was asked such questions during an interview. "Will the prime minister of Nepal or the UK be asked such questions?"

The BNP's Dhaka north city unit organised the rally protesting the recent attacks on party programmes in the capital and demanding release of the arrested opposition leaders and activists.

Khasru alleged that the premier also lied about enforced disappearances.

Hasina in the interview with BBC, aired on Sunday, said free and fair elections are held only during the tenures of AL governments as she always fought for democracy and people's democratic rights in the country.

About the allegation over enforced disappearances, the PM said anyone can bring any allegations but it needs to be judged how far it is true.

Yesterday, the BNP leader said the AL was handing over the party's leadership to bureaucrats instead of politicians.

Referring to the Chattogram deputy commissioner's recent comments and some other incidents, Khasru said the AL leadership was taken over by the admin and police officials.

He said the BNP's movement would continue until the government steps down. "This is a movement of the people of the country, different political parties, and the civil society who joined us. We will announce the roadmap of the movement in future."

Addressing the rally, BNP leader Tabith Awal, who was wounded in an attack on a protest programme in the capital on Saturday, said the BNP would be on the streets whenever there would be any repression. "We will not return home until a people's government is established."

Dhaka North City BNP Member Secretary Aminul Haque conducted the rally, presided over by Amanullah Aman, convener of the party unit.