Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Thursday alleged that the government is crippling local government bodies through politicisation by removing the opposition-backed elected public representatives on ‘fabricated’ charges.

‘The opposition-supported elected public representatives are being removed from local government bodies, including upazilas and municipalities, bringing false and fabricated charges against them. Ruling party-backed councillors are being installed in those posts,’ said BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon.

He further said, ‘As a result of politicisation in such a manner, the local government system is completely breaking down. They (govt) are deliberately crippling the local government bodies.’

Ripon, also BNP’s international affairs secretary, came up with the allegation at a press briefing at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.

He said as the government has indulged in political vengeance, it is illogically removing mayors, upazila chairmen, vice chairmen, union parishad chairmen and members who were elected with people’s votes.

The BNP leader alleged that the government is using courts and Local Government Division to eliminate the elected public representatives.

Criticising the government for what he said its repressive acts to subdue the opposition, Ripon said the government will not be able to destroy a pro-people party like BNP by resorting to repression and suppression.  

‘We want to call upon the government to shun its evil activities that weakening the local government system. We want to say you (govt) are disrespecting people’s verdicts by dismissing their elected representatives. The consequences will not be good for dishonouring people’s voting rights,’ he said.

Mentioning that Dhaka city unit BNP leader Chowdhury Alam went missing on this day (25 June) five years back, the party spokesman said it is a matter of regret that his family members still do not know what happed to his fate.

Referring to tracing of BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed and Chhatra Dal leader Anisur Rahman Talukder Khokan after remaining missing for several months, he said Chowdhury Alam’s family now regained hope that he will also be traced one day and come back to them. ‘We also hope to get him back.’