BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said though the government was talking tall about the US sanctions on RAB and the force’s some former and current officials, it has now appointed lobbyists to lift the bans by spending $20,000 every month.
“Why have you now engaged the lobbyists? The only reason is to legalise and hush up the repressions like killing and enforced disappearance, on people by spending their tax money on lobbyists,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, the party’s Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also alleged that the government has hired lobbyists with taxpayers’ money to legalise its repressive acts, including enforced disappearance.
As part of BNP’s 11-day countrywide program, its Dhaka north and south city units arranged the rally in front of the National Press Club protesting the growing price hike of daily essentials and utility services.
The BNP leader said the government will not be able to hide its misdeeds as those are getting exposed one by one. “You’ve no way to suppress (your misdeeds) no matter what step you take or appoint lobbyists.”
Stating that a poster carrying a sobbing photo of a minor daughter of enforced disappearance victim Mahfuzur Rahman Sohel pasted on different walls around the capital, Fakhrul said it has created a commotion all over the world.
“This government has looted all of our good things and achievements. The people of this country will never forgive this government. We would like to tell Awami League it won’t be able to subdue people by resorting to enforced disappearance, killing and repressive acts,” he observed.
He urged people, including the youth, to wake up and become involved with their party’s movement for protecting the country from the misrule of the Awami League. “We call upon all democracy-loving and patriotic political parties to initiate a struggle against the horrible fascist regime. Our victory is there for sure.”
Fakhrul asked the government to quit and arrange a credible election under a non-party neutral administration before time runs out fast.
He said the prices of all commodities and services that are needed for people’s survival have gone beyond the buying capacity. “We all need rice, pulses, oil and salt. The lines of people near the TCB’s trucks are getting longer every day. Even people belonging to the middle class are standing in the lines to buy goods from TCB’s trucks.”
The BNP leader said the prices of electricity, gas and water have been rising every year several times only because of corruption and looting by the government and its administrations. “Corruption has become pervasive everywhere in the country.”
Awami League has now become a party of looters. “They want to hang onto power by looting public money. There’s no place where there is no corruption and plundering during the rule of this regime.”
Referring to a leaked telephonic conversation between Law Minister Anisul Huq and Prime Minister’s Adviser Salman F Rahman, he said they talked about a project of Prime Minister’s son and ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
He said though their party has long been seeking a clear explanation on the matter, the government still did not pay heed to it. “People want to know why Joy’s name was used for passing the project.”
