Staff Reporter :
Different political leaders, including BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, have denounced the police intervention in the meeting at the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal faction President ASM Abdur Rab’s Uttara residence in the city on Thursday.
However, Rob said that it was an informal gathering after Eid and alleged that the police tried to prevent them from gathering, citing “instructions from the higher authorities.
“Police intervention in the meeting of civil and political leaders convened by Abdur Rab again proved that the government has lost its patience and democratic values,” said Khaleda Zia in a statement on Saturday.
“The key purpose of it was to create a serious fear in the society and the people so that none can utter any sound against the government,” she said.
A group of politicians who attend the meeting included Bikalpadhara President Professor Dr. AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, Krishak Sramik Janata League President Kader Siddiqui and Nagorik Oikyo Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna.
The other leaders were Biplabi Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, Gana Forum presidium members Subrata Chowdhury and AOM Shafiullah, Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BaSaD) General Secretary Khalekuzzaman and party leader Bazlur Rashid Firoz, JSD General Secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, Bikalpadhara Joint Secretary General Mahi B Chowdhury and General Secretary of Sujan, the citizens’ platform Badiul Alam Majumder.
The JSD leaders have described the assembly of the politicians at Rab’s residence on Thursday evening as a normal ‘tea party’.
Khaleda Zaia said that police were used to obstruct meeting at Rab’s house as a part of the incumbent government’s various ways to eliminate its opponent to hold absolute power with the aid of law enforcement agencies.
Badiul Alam Majumder, who went to Rab’s home at around 8:00pm, said, “I was surprised when the police suddenly moved in. This was a social event. The police came and said permission was a prerequisite for holding such meeting and they needed to be informed beforehand.”
However, at one stage police stepped out of the house to let them hold the “informal meeting”, but took position in front of the house.
Meanwhile, the leaders who attended the Thursday’s ‘tea party’ at Rab’s residence joined a protest meeting in front of the National Press Club in the city on Saturday.
ASM Abdur Rab, Dr. Zafrullah Chowdhury, trusty of Ganosaystho trust, Mahi B Chowdhury, JSD General Secretary Abdul Malek Ratan, Comrade Khalequazzaman, Mahmudur Rahman Manna, among others, spoke at the meeting.
They condemned the police action in the event. They urged the government to stay away from such a move in future.
Speaking at the meeting, Rab said that police intervention in the indoor meeting of the politicians in his residence was an attack against democracy.
“It was an attack against the democracy, the values of liberation war and human rights. The government is trying to make the next polls as a controlled election,” he said.
He also alleged that there was no safety of the people in the country.
The JSD president also said, “I had invited some veteran politicians and senior citizens in the country. The police intervened twice and asked to close the programme. Then the police tried to end the programme shortly. It was totally unacceptable
When contacted, JSD GS Abdul Malek Ratan, told The New Nation, “Police intervention in Abdur Rab’s tea party with the senior leaders of the country was unacceptable.”
He said, they are trying to form an alternative political alliance.
“We have started preliminary discussion to form an alliance. It must get a shape as the nation is waiting for an alternative political platform,” he said.
