Staff Reporter :
Bangladesh Nationalist Party BNP on Thursday expressed concern over frequent attacks on party chairperson Khaleda Zia’s motorcade during polls campaign in city and sought cooperation from government to ensure her security.
“We are concerned and worried over frequent attacks on the party Chairperson’s motorcade during polls campaign. We are seeking cooperation from the government to ensure her security,” said BNP International Affairs Secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon at a press conference at party’s Nayapaltan central office.
He also said braving all sorts of odds BNP Chairperson will continue to take part in the electioneering campaigns.
However, the party Chairperson on Thursday refrained from electioneering as her bulletproof car and other vehicles used during the campaign were damaged by the ruling party activists.
Asaduzzaman Ripon, now in charge of party central office, said when members of BNP Chairperson’s Security Force (CSF) are beaten up on the street the government should ask its law enforcers to ensure her security. “It is the government’s responsibility to ensure security to former three-time elected Prime Minister Khaleda Zia,” he said. On Wednesday, Khaleda Zia’s motorcade was attacked for the third consecutive day. She (Khaleda) escaped unhurt, but her vehicle’s windowpane got badly damaged.
Asaduzzaman Ripon said that they are doubtful about holding of free, fair and impartial elections.
“Even we are doubtful whether this government would hold the elections or not, because it had thought that BNP wouldn’t take part in the election. The government couldn’t think that Khaleda Zia would take part in the polls campaign,” he said.
Braving all odds BNP would take part in the elections and the government would not be able to get any benefit by launching attacks and filing false cases against the party leaders and workers, he said.
BNP Chairperson’s motorcade came under attack allegedly by ruling party men in the city’s Banglamotor area on Wednesday, leaving at least 10 people, including her adviser Abdul Quaiyum and two personal security staff, injured.
On Monday evening, around 150 activists of Jubo League, Swechchhasebak League, Sramik League and Chhatra League attacked BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s motorcade in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area. The second attack on her motorcade was launched on Tuesday in Fakirerpool area during polls campaign. She also came under attack at Uttara on Sunday last.
During these assaults, the attackers used brick chips and wooden sticks on the motorcade. Khaleda Zia’s bullet-proof car was damaged and four persons were injured, while she was campaigning in Karwan Bazar area for Dhaka North Mayoral candidate Tabith Awal. The attack foiled the electioneering.
