The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday expressed strong condemnation and deep outrage over what it described as “barbaric” acts carried out across the country.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir made the remarks while speaking to reporters after an emergency meeting of the party’s Standing Committee.

He said that despite the prevailing anarchic situation nationwide, the government’s role so far has been far from satisfactory. According to the BNP, the unrest is being deliberately orchestrated with the aim of creating uncertainty around the upcoming national election.

Mirza Fakhrul alleged that a series of incidents — including attacks on the offices of Prothom Alo and The Daily Star, assault on New Age editor Nurul Kabir, arson attacks on Udichi and Chhayanaut, an attack on the Indian High Commission, and the killing of a Hindu youth over allegations of blasphemy — are part of a deep conspiracy to destabilise the country.

Referring to the nationwide violence that erupted on Thursday night following the untimely death of Osman Hadi, Fakhrul described the chaos as a “new version of fascism.”

He reiterated that BNP believes the unrest is being planned to derail the national election and warned that any attempt to destroy the country would be resisted at all costs.

In the current context, Fakhrul said, there is no alternative to broader unity among political and social forces. He called upon all pro-democracy forces to once again unite on the streets to ensure the final exit of fascism and secure a free, fair and credible national election.