Bangladesh, Oct. 29 -- National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser for the Southern Region and lawmaker Hasnat Abdullah has accused the BNP government of curbing freedom of expression, alleging that 30 people have been detained for expressing their views during its eight months in office.

Comparing Bangladesh's situation to North Korea under the Kim dynasty, Hasnat said people were being detained for speaking out against the government.

"People are not being able to express their opinions. Anyone who speaks against the government is being detained," he said at a public outreach programme in Gulistan yesterday.

Hasnat said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had pledged before the election to uphold the freedom to dissent, but the government...