BNP writes to UN on “one-sided election” sabotage, arrests

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, senior Joint Secretary General of the BNP.

BNP has sent a letter to the UN secretary general describing the 12th parliamentary election as 'one-sided' and highlighting their statement on the political situation. In the letter sent on Sunday, the party said that repression is being carried out by arresting BNP leaders and activists by carrying out incidents of sabotage, including arson, ahead of a 'dummy' election and blaming and blaming those on the BNP.

The letter was signed by BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. BNP has delivered the letter to the United Nations headquarters in New York on the day. At the same time, the party has sent the letter to all foreign missions including the United Nations in Dhaka. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi read out the letter at a virtual press conference in the afternoon.

In their letter, BNP alleged that in the last two months, various types of sabotage, including attacks on buses and trains, are being carried out under the patronage of the state machinery. Awami League is creating such incidents using a section of law enforcement agencies. Leaders and activists of opposition parties, including BNP, are being arrested on fabricated charges. The government is trying to hold a farcical election by suppressing the opposition movement.

Justifying such allegations, BNP said, "A specific pattern is being noticed in the ongoing arson incident. The only beneficiary of which is the Awami League and its subordinate state machinery. And the main victim is the BNP. ’

The party alleges that the government is once again moving towards a farcical election of violence and rigging like the two disputed elections of 2014 and 2018.

Various parties and alliances, including the BNP, have boycotted the January 7 election, demanding the resignation of the government and the election under a non-partisan government. These parties have continued their movement programs.

The BNP and its allies have been observing hartal-blockade programs since the rally in Dhaka was disrupted due to attacks and clashes on October 28. Now they have continued to distribute leaflets and carry out mass contact programs to create public opinion in the movement to boycott the election and non-cooperation with the government. On the other hand, the ruling Awami League and its allies are now campaigning in the election field.

In the letter, the party also highlighted the statistics of arrests and killings of its leaders and activists since October 28. According to BNP statistics, 25,000 of their party leaders and activists have been arrested since October 28. Twenty-seven people were killed, the letter alleged. – GW News Desk