‘Police obstruction' to social business conference vindictive act: BNP

Condemning 'police obstruction' towards holding Yunus Centre's scheduled international conference on social business here, BNP on Friday said it has demonstrated the government's 'despotic and vicious attitude', reports UNB.

"The police denied permission to Yunus Centre to hold its seventh international conference on social business. This obstruction has exposed the government's personal vengeance," BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi was quoted to have said.

Speaking at a press conference at BNP's Nayapaltan central office, he further said, "Such an obstacle to an international conference is also a manifestation of violent form of autocracy. We strongly condemn and protest the incident."

The Yunus Centre had to postpone a two-day 7th international conference on social business scheduled to be held in Zirabo on the outskirts of Dhaka on 28-29 July after police denied permission for it.

"The permission was sought without giving the police adequate time," inspector general of police (IGP) AKM Shahidul Huq said on Thursday.

United Nations assistant secretary-general Thomas Gass is among 200 international participants who have already arrived in Dhaka to join the conference.

Rizvi said denying permission for holding an international programme will not bring any good for the government and the country. "It'll only deepen the international community's negative impression about Bangladesh."

About the monetary policy announced by the Bangladesh Bank on Wednesday, he said it is an anti-people one which will only increase unemployment rate.

The BNP leader also criticised the ruling party leaders for their constant 'unguarded' remarks about their chairperson's personal visit to the UK, saying they are making the comments as part of their evil design. "We smell a conspiracy in their concocted comments over their allegations against the tour."

He also alleged that the ruling party leaders, including its general secretary Obaidul Quader, are creating a smokescreen by spreading lies that Khaleda Zia is conspiring against the country in London.