Terming conspiratorial and malicious the issuance of warrant for the arrest of their chairperson, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the government is trying to weaken their party and demoralise Khaleda Zia by using the state machinery.

In a statement, he said, ‘The government has issued the warrant for the arrest of Khaleda Zia in a false case using the court to pursue its political vendetta.’

The BNP leader alleged that the government has long been trying to eliminate the opposition parties, including BNP, with its repressive acts and misrule to perpetuate power.

Earlier in the day, Comilla court issued warrants for the arrest of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia 45 other leaders and activists of the party in a case filed in connection with a petrol bomb attack on a bus in Chouddagram upazila in 2015.

On February 3, 2015, eight people were killed when a group of miscreants hurled a petrol bomb on a bus at Jogmohanpur in Chouddagram during the BNP-led alliance’s movement.

Fakhrul strongly protested and condemned the arrest warrant, and demanded its immediate withdrawal.

He said the current government wants to annihilate the opposition as it cannot tolerate criticism and protest against it.

The BNP leader said the government is continuously trying to upset Khaleda by filing ‘false’ cases one after another against her due to her huge popularity.

He alleged that the government has also got aggressive to destroy the state’s democratic institutions, including the judiciary.