BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that the leaders and activists of his party and its associate bodies are being arrested and harassed in connection with cases related to Hefazat-e-Islam despite the BNP has no connection with Hefazat or any of its programmes.
"The government has launched a crackdown on opposition leaders and activists taking advantage of the lockdown," he said, while addressing a virtual press briefing on Thursday.
He alleged that the law enforcing agencies were arresting the BNP and its associate body leaders and activists across the country.
Fakhrul said that at least 181 leaders and activists of the BNP and its associate bodies were already arrested while most of the arrested were members of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal.
He said, "No democracy exists in the country. The government has already established authoritarian rule."
The party secretray general demanded immediate release of the party leaders and workers, and withdrawal of the cases filed against them.
The BNP leader said the people hit by the second wave of coronavirus have become helpless.
Fakhrul also alleged the government is not working for the welfare of the people during this great calamity, but is making tall talks. It has utterly failed to tackle the coronavirus in all respects, he said.