Dhaka – Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Friday alleged that the government expanded tenure of Speedy Trial Act by five years to harass opposition parties and keep them away from political activities.
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan made the allegation while addressing a human chain programme in front of the National Press Club to protest passage of the harsh law in parliament and demand release of the detained BNP leaders.
Parliament on Thursday passed the Speedy Trial (Tribunal) Act with a provision to extend its tenure for another five years. The act, originally passed during the previous BNP regime deals with serious crimes such as extortion, vandalism and tender manipulation.
Comilla (North) unit of Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) organised the programme demanding the release of top BNP leaders including standing committee member Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain.
Nazrul Islam Khan emphasized the need for launching mass movement to force the government to quit.
“No more human chain programme or holding of rally or seminar is needed. Mass movement is needed for removal of the government already isolated from the people,” he said.
The BNP leader accused the government for its failure to realize fair water sharing of Teesta river. “The people living on the banks of Teesta river are facing acute sufferings. They are not getting due share of Teesta water due to failure of the government,” he added.
He criticized the government for giving approval to use corridor facilities by India to supply power to its territories without ensuring Bangladesh’s benefit.
The BNP leader also raised question as to how the government was proving corridor facilities to India when Bangladesh was not getting due share of Teesta water despite having agreement between the two countries.
He also criticized the government to send Dr Mosharraf in jail saying that the government is applying separate laws in respect to ruling party leaders and activists and their opponents on the same ground.
Presided over by Arif Mahamud, president of Comilla (North) unit of Jasas, the human chain programme was also addressed, among others, by BNP chairperson’s adviser Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Khairul Kabir Khokan, Juba Dal leader Moazzem Hossain Alal, Shirin Sultana, Abdul Malek, KMI Khalil, Dr Khandaker Maruf Hossain, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, Monir Khan, Jasim Uddin Ahmed, Mahfuzul Islam Saimum and Nurul Amin Mir.
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