BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday questioned whether the attacker, clearly seen on video fatally killing a scrap trader in front of Mitford Hospital, has not yet been arrested due to the silent support or the interim government’s indirect indulgence.

“We were very surprised to see clearly on the screen who was killing (the trader), yet the government has still not arrested him. Should we assume that those trying to create mob violence and unrest are being secretly supported or pampered by the government or some officials in the administration?” he said.

Tarique made the remarks while virtually exchanging views with the families of the 142 martyrs of the July mass uprising.

Tarique said some parties are misrepresenting the killing incident in Old Dhaka. “The man who was killed may have had ties to the Jubo Dal, but the person who committed the murder, based on the information we have received, was brought in from elsewhere.”

He lamented that the man seen killing the trader has neither been arrested nor named as a suspect yet.

“Why has this happened? Why is he not being arrested? Why is the administration not arresting him? Why are the law enforcement agencies sitting idle? Who controls the law enforcement agencies? It is not BNP; it is the government. So, why is the government not taking action against the killers?” Tarique said.

He said the BNP will ensure justice for every killing when given the chance to govern the country as it is a demand of all democracy-loving people in Bangladesh.

The BNP leader alleged that some media outlets are currently trying to spread different messages and create stories around certain issues.

He said both BNP and its affiliated organisations have always demanded justice, no matter who commits the crime. “A wrongdoer is a wrongdoer. Justice must be served according to the law. No wrongdoer should have the identity of any political party.”

The BNP leader said people across the country are asking why the government authorities remain silent and why proper legal action is not being taken against those trying to create chaos.

“Many incidents are happening in different places, and we are watching closely those who are trying to disrupt a peaceful environment,” he said.

The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal organised the event at a hotel in the capital to mark the first anniversary of the July-August mass uprising and to honour the memory of the brave martyrs of Chhatra Dal.

It was a deeply emotional occasion as the families of the fallen shared their sorrow and grief. They recalled their loved ones with heavy hearts.

Many also called for justice and demanded that those responsible for the killings be held to account.

Tarique urged the families of the martyrs to raise their voices loudly over the delays in the trials of those responsible for killing their loved ones.

He also warned them to be vigilant against those trying to create mobs to delay justice.

The BNP leader said a Jubo Dal leader was also killed by having his tendon cut in Khulna two days ago. “Why is there no voice against this killing? Why, when we demand justice for such killings, is it said that BNP is doing politics over dead bodies? These are the questions we must now find answers to. Because, he said, the answers to these questions are deeply connected to the existence of Bangladesh and its people.”