Dhaka: Bangaldesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged the government is abusing its power for accelerating the hearing on the cases filed against their party Chairperson Khaleda Zia.

"The dates are being fixed every week for hearing on the cases against our leader (Khaleda Zia). They (govt) are doing it abusing their power as they want to keep her confined," he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said Khaleda Zia herself fears that the government is trying to keep her away from the next election by convicting her in the cases.

Fakhrul said a unity of those who believe in the country's sovereignty and independence, democracy and restoring people's rights is crucial now to resist the government's such move.

"It doesn't matter which party we belong to. We must get united to defeat an evil force like Awami League to protect the country, democracy and ensure a credible election," he added.

Afsar Ahmed Smrity Foundation arranged the programme at Dhaka Reporters' Unity (DRU), marking the 16th death anniversary of ex-BNP vice chairman Afsar Ahmed Siddique.

Referring to the attack on Khaleda Zia's convoy on her way to Cox's Bazar to visit Rohingyas last week, he said though journalists and BNP leaders and activists came under attack and a Swechchasebak Dal leader died, the ruling party is saying it is an outcome of BNP's intraparty feud.

"Journalists and the entire nation witnessed they (AL men) carried out the incident. But they're still spreading lies. Even, they arrested our leaders and activists and filed cases against them. It's tantamount to deceiving the nation," Fakhrul observed.

He said people cannot keep confidence in a government which deceives them and tries to establish a lie as a truth. "The government wants to hang onto power by filing false case and carrying out repressive acts, killing and enforced disappearance as it has got isolated from people."