Staff Correspondent:

BNP senior leader Selima Rahman on Saturday slammed the government for what she said was its inability to prevent the rising culture of mob justice and the increasing repression of women in society.

“I would like to tell the government, if you can’t stop the instability in society, the culture of mob justice, and the rape of women then the dream with which the people of Bangladesh freed themselves from fascism will never be realised,” she said.

Selima, a BNP Standing Committee member, made the remarks while addressing a pre-rally gathering of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, marking International Women’s Day.

The leaders and workers of Mohila Dal, dressed in purple sarees, participated in the programme and later brought out a rally in observance of the day.

Selima questioned why the interim government remains silent in the face of mob justice in the country.

“After the ousting of a fascist regime through a bloody revolution by students and youths, why are women still being raped? It is happening on buses, women are being harassed on the streets and outside their homes. Such incidents are occurring one after another, including one in Magura,” she said.

She said it seems a certain quarter is promoting the culture of mob justice in the country to incite anarchy. “Who is behind this, and indulging in such activities using loudspeakers? Why is the government silent? Why isn’t the government speaking out?”

The BNP leader expressed her party’s expectation that the interim government, led by Dr Muhammad Yunus, a world-renowned and respected leader, would take a strong stance against those creating instability and attempting to steer the country in a different direction, and punish them.