UNB, Dhaka :BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday renewed his party’s call to the government to engage in talks with the ‘opposition’ to create a democratic environment in the country.”The government has been carrying out repressive acts for the last few years. The government must create a democratic atmosphere shunning repressive acts to make democracy sustainable,” he said.Addressing a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he further said, “We’ve repeatedly been saying it’s imperative to engage in talks with the opposition to create a democratic environment. We now again call upon the government to hold a dialogue with the opposition without further delay.”Fakhrul also warned the government that it will be very difficult to prevent re-emergence of extremism and militancy if it does not restore democracy and ensure an open democratic atmosphere through talks. “We once again urge the government to ensure an open democratic space in the interest of the country and the nation.”The BNP leader alleged that the government has restarted filing ‘false’ cases against opposition leaders and activists after the municipality polls to subdue them. “They’re not even sparing the candidates.”He said, a case was filed at Mymensingh’s Phulpur under explosive acts against 70 BNP leaders and activists, including former local MP Shah Shahid Sarwar and newly elected mayor Aminul Haq.Fakhrul said, Patuakhali Sramik Dal senior vice president Mizanur Rahman Babu was also brutally killed by miscreants. “We strongly condemn the killing.”He demanded the government immediately arrest the killers and mete out exemplary punishment to them.”The entire country has now become a death valley. There’s now no security of public life and property. The daydream of the government to perpetuate its power by killing opposition leaders and activists and repressing them won’t be materialised,” he observed.
