Bagerhat, Sept. 15 -- Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Tuesday claimed that more than 4,500 BNP leaders and activists were killed in the name of "crossfire" and around 700 others were subjected to enforced disappearances during the 17 years of the previous government.

"Many leaders and activists were killed and subjected to enforced disappearance for their association with BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami," he said.

The minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a meeting on law and order and development at the conference room of the Bagerhat deputy commissioner's office in the afternoon.

He said more than 60 lakh people faced "false and fabricated cases" for their involvement in B...