Accusing the government of mass- killing ‘several hundred’ people to suppress the students' anti-quota movement, the BNP on Tuesday said the current regime must take responsibility for this brutal massacre and step down.

“We call these incidents and the loss of lives as genocide. Of course, it is genocidal,” said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Speaking at a press conference at the BNP Chairperson's Gulshan office, he also said the government is attempting to avoid a humiliating defeat by the student movement through the use of the administration and law enforcement forces.

“This movement, stained with the blood of several hundred martyrs, can’t go in vain. All of the government’s moves will backfire. The government must take responsibility for this brutal massacre and step down,” the BNP leader said.

 He said the government is facing the intense anger and hatred of the people and at the same time the conscientious people of the whole world by killing people indiscriminately with police and law enforcers and Chhatra League cadres during the students' movement. “They brutally killed humanity in Bangladesh.”

Fakhrul said the government is completely responsible for the violence as it created a disorderly and uncontrolled situation through indiscriminately gunning down ‘several hundred’ people by the law enforcement forces and Chhatra League and Jubo League cadres.

“The government can’t avoid its responsibility by shedding crocodile tears and shifting the blame onto others.  Sheikh Hasina's government is being called a barbaric dictator by foreigners for this massacre. Even the United Nations has condemned and sought an explanation,” he said.

The BNP leader reiterated the party's demand for an investigation into the killings and violence during the student movement by the United Nations. 'We do not trust any investigation conducted by this government, as they are not impartial. How can we have faith in them?”

He condemned the attack by the law enforcement agencies and the ruling party’s organisations in the protest rally called by the students across the country, including the capital, on Monday, and demanded the release of all arrested students.

The BNP leader urged the government to provide answers to the families of the victims regarding why their loved ones lost their lives as it has the responsibility to ensure the security of every citizen.

“You have created this situation…you must take this responsibility and quit power to resolve the problem. The political crisis must be resolved politically. They must leave…they must hold a new election and hand over power to the elected representatives of the people,” he observed.

The BNP leader said their party still supports the student’s movement. “We call upon the agitators to take this movement to its final stage.”

At the same time, he also demanded the government lift the curfew and take back the army to the barracks.

Fakhrul also condemned what he said taking the five coordinators of the student movement to the DB custody and forcing them to give a statement on calling off the agitation and making a drama by making public the photos of taking food there.

“They have belittled and mocked the entire nation by creating such a drama and a joke. I think, created a mask,” he said.