Human rights index below zero: Khaleda

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today said that the human rights index in Bangladesh has gone “below the zero” as the Awami League-led government is “indulged in repressive and undemocratic rules”.

“The country has been turned into a killing ground and its human right situation has gone below the zero as the ruling quarter snatched people’s human and democratic rights forcibly by holding a unilateral election on January 5, 2014,” Khaleda said.

Khaleda Zia, also a former prime minister, urged the countrymen to be united to get rid of the situation and to restore the country’s democracy.

In a press statement, Khaleda made the appeal today on the eve of the World Human Rights Day to be observed on December 10.

Claiming that Bangladesh is passing through a tough time, Khaleda said the ruling quarter has been snatching people’s fundamental rights through “letting loose reckless torture and repression”.

The people of different communities including journalists, rights groups, teachers, students, women, children and leaders and activists of the opponent political parties have been passing through an insecure situation, she added.

Besides, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Rizvi Ahmed today blamed the ruling Awami League for “unleashing the acts of extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance and abduction”.

“Whenever Awami League comes to power it unleashes the acts of extrajudicial killing, enforced disappearance and abduction,” Rizvi came up with the allegation while talking to reporters at Kurigram Press Club this noon.

Claiming that the countrymen are passing through a horrific and inhuman social and political condition, Rizvi said the government is engaged in killing people in the name of gun fight so that none can dare to cast eye to the state power.

The BNP leader also blasted prime minister and home minister for their lame excuses in favour of the abduction and extrajudicial killing and said people including journalists, politicians and businessmen are not quite safe under the rule of the voter-less government.

Rizvi also expressed his resentment at the police department as his party was denied of permission to observe the Begum Rokeya Day today with due respect and said the government is above the accountability as it is unelected.

“We protest the government decision through holding a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka tomorrow,” he added.