Overnight violence a ‘deliberate ploy’ to postpone elections: Salahuddin

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has described overnight violence across the country, including attacks and arson at Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, as a “deliberate ploy to delay elections.”

“This sort of situation should have been anticipated. There ought to have been intelligence reports, and precautionary measures should have been taken beforehand,” he said at a press briefing in Gulshan today (19 December).

Salahuddin said, “We have seen that certain specific target locations were predetermined. It is necessary to investigate whether there is any sinister plan or ploy to obstruct elections by creating a chaotic situation across the country through such means.

“However, Bangladesh’s democratic journey cannot be obstructed through such activities. We believe that the democratic transition cannot be halted in any way,” he added. 

Regarding Tarique Rahman’s return, the BNP Standing Committee member said, “All necessary steps are being taken for the return of the party’s acting chairman, Tarique Rahman, to the country. All security-related matters are being coordinated with the government, and the government is providing adequate cooperation in this regard.”