Dhaka, Sept. 18 -- 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' fu...