Over 200 academics and some rights activists have slammed Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) endorsement and projection of its acting chief Tarique Rahman’s address in which he sent “instructions to law enforcers and public servants,” as he is “a convict.”

In reference to an impending verdict, centering Tarique and his wife over alleged corruption perpetrated during their last stint in power, they said the address should be considered “an attempt to interfere with and intimidate the judiciary.”

“From media reports we came to know that as a convict and fugitive, Tarique, who is living in exile to evade justice, issued a statement for public officials but in light of his record of convictions, it is deplorable and alarming,” reads a statement issued by Education, Research and Development Forum of Bangladesh (ERDFB).

“BNP’s move to circulate such a statement by Tarique, who has been convicted in cases of corruption and assassination attempt, is lamentable,” reads the statement.

Tarique was convicted in cases of corruption and the 2004 grenade attack case, and was deemed a symbol of “kleptocratic government and violent politics” in Bangladesh by the US embassy in Dhaka at the time.

In reference to his call for “deciding the fate of the country on the streets,” the statement reads: “In a democracy, without contesting in the battle of ballots, asking people to take to the streets is a clear instigation for violence.”

The statement also evoked grisly spell of street violence reportedly orchestrated by the BNP-Jamaat alliance in the run up to the 2014 national election.

On behalf of the platform, Professor Md Sazzad Hossain, member, University Grants Commission and President of ERDFB; BUET Prof Abdul Jabbar Khan, a senior vice president of ERDFB; and Prof Mohammad Badruzzaman Bhuiyan, treasurer, University of Barishal and general secretary of the forum, signed the statement.

Earlier, minority community leader Advocate Rana Das Gupta also expressed alarm over the call, citing past violence on the streets coupled with targeted attacks on minorities across the country still traumatizing the victims.