Bangladesh faces a ‘North Korea-like situation’: Fakhrul

Special Correspondent
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday alleged that a North Korea-like situation has been prevailing in Bangladesh for lack of democracy.
“There’s no democracy and independence of expression in the country. Overseas media are comparing Bangladesh’s existing situation with that of North Korea as people have no freedom here,” he revealed. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader further said, “We must overcome the situation and come out of the darkness to light. We must take a bow on this day to move forward to freeing our leader Khaleda Zia.”
The program was jointly arranged by Bangladesh Chhatra Forum and Uttaranchal Chhatra Forum, marking the 13th anniversary of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman’s imprisonment. Fakhrul alleged that the government is implicating BNP leaders and activists in ‘false’ cases across the country as part of its plot to eliminate the party.
He warned that the government will not succeed in its efforts to destroy BNP as people strongly hold the politics of the party in their hearts. “BNP will surely wake up like (mythological) phoenix bird.” The BNP leader said the followers of Bangladeshi nationalism will move on braving all repressive acts and obstacles to ensure people’s rights and independence.
Referring to his meeting with their party chairperson Khaleda Zia at a court on Sunday, Fakhrul said it was so shocking to see the way she was brought to the court in a wheelchair. “For the first time, she said she is ill and enduring pains due to her sickness and arthritic problem.” The BNP leader also said several thousand leaders and activists of their party and its associate bodies have also been kept in jail by implicating them in ‘false cases’.
Under the circumstances, he called upon BNP leaders and activists to wage a united movement to free the nation from the chain of ‘one-party’ rule. About the government’s move to increase the gas prices, the BNP leader said people will come up with a strong resistance if the government tries to hike the prices.
Fakhrul said their party is happy over the participation of its student body Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in the election to Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (Ducsu) as it has created a scope for the organization to demonstrate its strength.