Accusing the police of maiming a Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader in Chattogram by shooting him in the leg, BNP on Monday alleged that the government has illegally been using law enforcers to make its narrow political gains.

In a statement, he said police arrested JCD Chattogram city unit’s former assistant general secretary Saiful Islam on June 17 from Bayezidbotami area without any warrant and shot him in the leg.

He said Saiful was brought to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) in the capital in a critical condition where his left leg had to be amputated.

“We’ve no word to condemn this horrible, brutal and demonic incident. When it’s the responsibility of law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of public life and property, some of their members are now arbitrarily killing, torturing and crippling opposition leaders and ordinary people to appease those in power,” Fakhrul said.

He said the disgusting act of the police against student leader Saiful is not acceptable in any way under the law of the land as it is a crime against humanity.

“The government has continued its heinous and vindictive attitude towards opposition leaders and activists and common people to cement its ‘immoral and authoritarian’ rule. The government is unjustly abusing various law enforcement agencies for its own interests,” the BNP leader said.

He alleged that the current government is pushing the country towards a serious crisis instead of working for the welfare of people out of arrogance of power. “A reign of terror has been established across the country by resorting to murders, abductions, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings.”

The BNP leader said the current government has been trying to perpetuate its power through spreading panic among people with its repressive acts by law enforcers. “It’s gradually becoming a monster.”

He called upon all, irrespective of party affiliation, to unite and put up a resistance against such demonic ‘monstrous’ behaviour of the government.

Fakhrul urged the government to put under trial those involved in shooting and maiming Saiful unlawfully.

He also demanded unconditional release of the crippled JCD leader.