Suppression of democracy to fuel extremism

Denouncing the "confinement" of Khaleda Zia, Supreme Court Bar Association President Khandker Mahbub Hossain yesterday said closing down all democratic avenues would make way for the rise of extremism in the country, which nobody wanted.

“We feel that the government has taken a very sly and condemnable move to destroy the life of ...Khaleda Zia.... we demand immediate removal of the restrictions on food supply to her Gulshan office and the leaders and activists' audience with her,” he said.

Addressing a press conference in SCBA's auditorium, the adviser to Khaleda said she had been confined and held incommunicado, while the government denied she was arrested. "Even the leaders and distinguished people are detained at the gate."

On Sunday, police detained singer Baby Nazneen for one hour when she went to the office to meet Khaleda Zia.

The SCBA boss also slammed the police chief for denying that the cops were barring food supply to the office.

Both "electronic and print media have published the footage and photos of the police restriction," he said. “We believe that the police chief has undermined the entire police force before the public by making an untrue and misleading statement.”

Accusing the government of trying to kill Khaleda, the SCBA chief sought help of the human rights bodies and the United Nations.