BNP threatens to cripple country if Public Safety Bill passed

Main opposition BNP has threatened to cripple the country if the government passes the "anti-people" Public Safety Bill.

Party secretary general Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan said yesterday that the Awami League would not be able to cling to power by introducing any such "black law".

He said the law is aimed at carrying out repression on the opposition.

Addressing a public rally at Muktangan, Bhuiyan said this is the first street protest against the attempt to introduce the black law in the name of public safety. He warned of a stronger agitation soon if the government does not back out from formulating such law.

He said the AL may be the first victim of the "black law" once out of power as they had fallen victim to the Special Powers Act (SPA).

The BNP secretary general said the AL was vocal against the SPA while in opposition and pledged to repeal it along with separating the judiciary from the executive if it came to power. But once in office it refused to abolish the SPA let alone doing anything about the independence of the judiciary. Instead, it is now going to introduce another black law.

It is quite possible to curb all sorts of acts of terrorism, mugging, hijacking and other criminal activities if the existing laws are properly executed, said Bhuiyan.

He observed that the deteriorated law and order situation can be reversed if the ruling party terrorists are arrested and if the police are allowed to discharge their duties without any interference.

"Who are letting loose terrorism at Feni, Laxmipur, Barisal and Narayanganj? Who are snatching tenders? Who are resorting to terrorism at Dhaka City Corporation? Who have foiled Kader Siddique's meeting?" Bhuiyan asked, pointing to the events reportedly carried out by the ruling party men.

"If we go through the daily newspapers, we will find that activists of Awami League are involved in all sorts of criminal activities," he added.

City BNP convenor Sadek Hossain Khoka MP said the BNP has started its movement against the new black law today.

He said Awami League after failing to quell the opposition movement through abusing the SPA has planned to introduce another black law to foil the oust-government movement.

BNP leaders and activists later brought out a big procession from Muktangan at 4:15 pm parading different city streets. The procession ended on Engineers' Institution premises at 4:37 pm.

Huge contingent of riot police were deployed at different points while a large number of others followed the marchers.