Immediately after formatting the government in 2001, the BNP-Jamaat men started massacring the Awami League leaders and activists, including killing, torturing, extorting, looting and raping their women. They even hired militant outfits to carry out killing missions across the country.
Khaleda Zia’s government used to communicate with the militants through eight BNP leaders under the direct guidance of Tarique Rahman. Even many members of the police force were forced to collaborate with the militants due to political pressure from some Ministers.
Leaders in the BNP government used to send money safely to militants through police personnel. Even if the police had to release arrested JMB militants sometimes due to pressure from the government, special orders would come from the higher levels of the government and Tarique’s political office ‘Hawa Bhaban’ to grant them bail from the court.