National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam on Wednesday said Bangladesh was turning into a ‘mafia state’, alleging that Bangladesh Nationalist Party-linked people were killing fellow party members and repressing ordinary people under the party’s patronage.
He said the situation reflected a deterioration in law and order.
Nahid made the remarks before a meeting with NCP leaders from the southern Dhaka division in Rajbari to discuss organisational progress and preparations for the local elections.
Questioning whether the killings would be brought to justice, he said judicial reforms remained incomplete and the judiciary was still controlled by those in power.
‘If we give this government a free pass, we may have to face another fascism,’ he said, adding that he did not want another uprising in which 1,400 lives would have to be sacrificed to overthrow an authoritarian regime.
He alleged that the government was not taking action against drug kingpins, syndicate members and political leaders involved in drug trafficking.
Referring to Cox’s Bazar as a major drug trafficking route, he questioned the home minister’s failure to stop the trade in his own area.
Nahid also said peaceful local government elections did not appear possible under the prevailing circumstances.
He claimed that hundreds of people had been killed or injured in ruling-party infighting and alleged that the Election Commission and the police administration were becoming increasingly politicised.