Dhaka: Alleging that the country's law and order situation has been on downslide, Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Friday said the incidents of robbery, killing, and sexual assaults on women have marked an alarming rise as during the post-1975 period.

‘Those returning from their village homes are saying killings, hooliganism, robberies have marked a sharp rise. The incidents of robbery are taken place in rural areas as happened during the post-75 period. Alongside the robberies, women are being sexually assaulted. This is an ominous sign,’ said BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon.

He came up with the allegations at a press briefing at BNP's Nayapaltan central office.

The BNP leader called upon the government to take necessary steps to improve the law and order situation and ensure the security of public life and their property.

Mentioning that the Road Transport and Bridges minister Obaidul Quader had said the eid-trippers journeys will be safe, Ripon said the minister has failed to live up to his promise as many people are now killed in road crashes every day.

Ripon, one of the BNP's international affairs secretaries, further alleged that the conditions of roads across the country, including the capital, are in a sorry state with cracks, potholes and ditches, causing immense sufferings to commuters.

‘The government is spending thousands of crores of taka to develop the roads, but it doesn't monitor the development works properly as it is only busy harassing and repressing opposition leaders and activists,’ he observed.

The BNP leader said there are two types of law -- one for the opposition and another for the ruling party -- in the country.  

He regretted that Disaster Management minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya still holds office even after the country's apex court convicted him for corruption.

Ripon said had the Prime Minister removed the controversial ministers, including the Food Minister for the rotten wheat import, her government's image would have brightened.

He appreciated the ruling party's student body Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) for inviting BNP's student body Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders to its council to be held at Suhrawardy Udyan on Saturday and Sunday. ‘It's a very positive sign for politics.’

The BNP spokesman urged the government to release JCD president Rajib Ahsan who was arrested a day after Eid-ul-Fitr at Lebukhali ferry terminal on Barisal-Patuakhali Highway, enabling him to attend the BCL's council. ‘Everything is possible by this government. We hope it'll set Rajb free immediately.’

Ripon also urged the government to refrain from harassing and repressing the opposition leaders and activists by implicating them in 'false' cases.