Slamming Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her comments that free and fair elections are held in Bangladesh under Awami League only, BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday said even the ruling party leaders and activists do not believe it. “In the BBC interview, the prime minister was asked whether there will be a fair election in Bangladesh in the future. She said fair polls are held during the Awami League. Will a person in Bangladesh believe what she said? Even those who belong to the ruling party don’t believe it!" he said. Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader also said Sheikh Hasina should be ashamed of being asked such a question. “When a head of government was asked this question, she should understand its motive. Why was the head of the government of Bangladesh asked this question?” The leaders and workers of BNP shouted slogans at that time saying ‘fake’ as a sign of disapproval of the PM’s comment. Khosru, a BNP standing committee member, also said BBC would not ask the British or Nepalese Prime Minister such a question. He asked the Prime Minister to realise why she faced such a question. The BNP leader also described the Prime Minister's statement in the BBC interview about incidents of enforced disappearance in Bangladesh as a ‘lie’. Also read: BNP leader Amir Khosru lands in jail Mohakhali zone of Dhaka north city unit arranged the rally on a field adjacent to Gausul Azam Jam-e-Mosque protesting the price hike of fuels, daily essentials and the killing of three opposition leaders in Bhola and Narayanganj in police firing. Earlier, in an interview with BBC aired on Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “Only during AL governments, you can see free and fair elections.” Khosru said their party will continue its current movement together with people of all walks of life and political parties and civil society members to make it a success. He said they will intensify the movement in the days to come by announcing an outline for the simultaneous movement. The BNP leader said Awami League is now depending on bureaucrats and government officials instead of politicians to cling to power. “You have noticed that there is now no leadership in the hands of Awami League’s politicians… they have now handed over their political leadership to government officials," he said. BNP executive committee member Tabith Awal who was injured in an attack reportedly by the ruling party on a candlelight vigil programme of BNP in the city’s Banani area on Saturday joined the rally with bandages on his hands and head. Speaking at the rally, he said, “By the grace of Allah I came before you today. I want to say firmly, no matter how many wounds we receive in heads and hands, Every BNP leader and every worker will remain in the field.” Tabith said no BNP leader and activist will return home until a government of people is established by ousting the current Awami League one. "We will meet you on the battlefield and carry forward our programmes together with you.”    

Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader on Tuesday strongly denounced the attacks on newsmen during clashes between shop employees and Dhaka College students in New Market area, and sought legal action against the perpetrators.   “Attacks on media workers are tantamount to clamping down on free press,” he said. Read: Violent clashes erupt again between Dhaka College students, traders; over 30 hurt GM Quader, also the Deputy Opposition Leader in Parliament, came up with the comment while addressing a views-exchange meeting with Sylhet divisional Jatiya Party leaders at the party chairman’s Banani office. He bemoaned that media workers are coming under attacks repeatedly while collecting information and performing their duties. “Nothing can be more shameful than this.” The Jatiya Party chief urged the law enforcement agencies to take stern action against those who are indulging terrorism and anarchy violating the sanctity of Ramadan. Read: Depression peaking in university students over future job prospects: SUST study Earlier in the day, over 30 people, including at least seven journalists, were injured as a group of students of Dhaka College locked into a series of clashes with shop employees in New Market in the capital. The injured journalists alleged that both the rowdy students and shop employees beat them up when they were discharging their professional duties.