Dhaka: Denouncing the murder of blogger Niladri Chattopadhyay Niloy, BNP on Saturday said a state of lawlessness is now prevailing in the country because of a serious slide in the law-and-order situation.

Addressing a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman also alleged that the government is trying to brand Bangladesh as a country of militants and fundamentalists in its own interest.

‘We don’t support any kind of killing. We denounce the murder of anyone, no matter whether he is blogger Niloy or a political activist,’ he said.

Ripon further said, ‘A situation of lawlessness has been prevailing in the country for sharp deterioration in law and order. That’s why, incidents like murders of bloggers, brutal killings of children and a child being shot in her mother’s womb in Mgura are taking place,’ he observed.

Blogger Niloy, who was residing at a rented flat on the 4th floor of a multi-storey building at Goran in the city, was hacked to death in the city's Khilgaon area on Friday. Niloy is the fourth Bangladeshi blogger hacked to death so far this year.

Ripon said Nioly was killed as there is no rule of law in the country. ‘People are being killed and made disappeared regularly. Women are also being molested. ‘All these are happening for lack of the rule of law in the country.’

About their party’s position over the bloggers’ freedom of writing, Ripon said, ‘We believe in bloggers’ freedom of writing as well as their freedom of expression. At the same time, we expect they won’t write anything which may hurt the sentiment of believers of any religion.’

Replying to a question, the BNP leader said the government often shouts saying there are militants in the country and they some time arrest some people branding them as extremists. ‘But we don’t see their trial.’

‘There is no room for militancy in Islam. BNP is also always deadly against fundamentalism… we believe that only an elected and pro-people government can eliminate militancy with an iron hand,’ he observed.

The BNP spokesman also expressed deep concern over the recent spate of children killing and brutal torture on them. ‘There’s no accountability of the government. Brutality against children and women are taking place due to the ongoing culture of impunity.’

He also regretted that the government is not taking any visible and effective step to contain the violence against children and women.