National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam on Friday accused BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of emerging as a ‘new authoritarian,’ saying democracy and human rights are not safe under his leadership.

“Democracy is not safe in Tarique Rahman’s hands, nor are human rights. Tarique Rahman has emerged as a new authoritarian,” Nahid said while addressing an NCP human chain in front of the Jatiya Sangsad.

The NCP arranged the human chain protesting what it described as the BNP government’s passage of laws violating human rights, suppression of dissent and deprivation of citizens’ fundamental rights.

He alleged that the BNP government was suppressing dissent and passing laws that undermine citizens’ fundamental rights, despite its earlier struggle for democracy and human rights during the ousted Awami regime.

Nahid demanded amendments to laws concerning enforced disappearances and the National Human Rights Commission, as well as proposed changes to Cyber Security Act, saying such measures must not curtail freedom of expression.

He questioned the government’s handling of disappearance allegations, particularly the case of Miraj Sheikh, who, he said, had remained missing for five months.

He also criticised the use of the Anti-Terrorism Act against NCP-linked activists Gazi Salahuddin Tanvir and Sifat, arguing that offensive speech should not be treated as terrorism.

“But it is not terrorism. People’s mouths are being silenced and their right to speak is being stopped in the name of the Anti-Terrorism Act,” he said.

He alleged that law-enforcement agencies should not investigate disappearance complaints involving other law-enforcement agencies and expressed concern that provisions penalising false complaints could discourage victims’ families from seeking justice.

Nahid also alleged that the Anti-Corruption Commission was being used against opposition figures.

“You are using the ACC against us, against our leaders; by all means, continue doing so,” he said.

“You have not formed a police reform commission; instead, the police force is being prepared to suppress the opposition,” he added.

He called for independent mechanisms to investigate human-rights violations and protect democratic and constitutional rights.