UNB, Dhaka :Observing that the country is now under an “awful misrule”, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday alleged that militants have appeared as a demonic force in the country as democracy has been “obliterated”.”Democracy now has got hostage in the country due to terrible misrule,” she said in a message issued on the occasion of the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.The day will be observed in the country as elsewhere across the globe on Sunday with a call for standing in solidarity with hundreds of thousands of victims of torture and their family members.Khaleda said, “Democracy has gone into exile amid the government’s brutal repressive policy, resulting in the emergence of demonic militant forces. It’s carrying out its deadly attacks on the people of all religious communities, bloggers, and teachers.” Mentioning that the government’s role in tacking militant activities is mysterious, she said the government in the name of curbing militants is repressing common people and opposition leaders and activists. “All the ways of getting justice have been shut for the country’s people. The message of justice now cries in wilderness.”The BNP chief said a good number of leaders and activists of opposition parties, including BNP, have been subjected to killing, enforced disappearance, abduction and secret killing since the current government assumed office.She said many journalists were also tortured and some newspapers and television channels shut down to suppress the freedom of expression.Khaleda alleged that the government is letting loose its repressive forces against those who oppose its undemocratic, intolerant attitude. She expressed her solidarity with all the victims of torture both at home and abroad, and said, “A united effort by all democracy-loving people will ensure the defeat of the oppressors and autocrats.”
