Dhaka: Criticising the Prime Minister for accusing BNP of having hands in the recent killing of two foreigners, BNP on Tuesday alleged that the government is out to divert people’s attention to a different direction by blaming the opposition.

‘The murders of the two foreigners are very unfortunate and shameful incidents for our country. We think the government should take immediate steps so that the assailants are arrested. But, the arrest of BNP leaders and blaming the party over the two murders are an effort to divert people’s attention to a different direction,’ said BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan.

He came up with the allegation at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office.

Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s remark that BNP-Jamaat nexus might have hands in the killing of the two foreigners, Nazrul said, ‘The way the Prime Minister accused our party and its leaders of the murders without any investigation, it seems the judiciary and probe are no longer necessary in the country to identify the accused.’

He further said, ‘Now it’s the government that will identify criminals and try them as per their will. We want the government to stop such practice. The killers of the two foreign nationals must be punished though proper investigations.’

Nazrul alleged that now there is no security of the country’s people as the government has engaged all the law enforcement agencies in suppressing the opposition.

He voiced concern that two Rangpur BNP leaders, Ansur Rahman Lacku and Rashed-un-Nabi Khan Biplob, remained missing since they were picked up by RAB members on Saturday.

Nazrul demanded the government immediately produce them before public and return them to their families.

Meanwhile, a Rangpur court placed Rashed-un-Nabi Khan Biplob, and slain Japanese citizen’s friend Humayun Kabir Hira on police custody for ten days in connection with Hoshi Kunio murder as they were produced before it.

Hoshi Kunio was shot dead in Rangpur on 3 October, five days after the killing of an Italian citizen Cesare Tavella in Dhaka's Gulshan area.