AL govt looted more than British, Pakistani rulers did: Mirza Abbas
The Awami League (AL) government has looted the country more than the British and Pakistani rulers did as they have no sense of patriotism, BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas has alleged.
"Today, ill-educated officials paid with taxes collected from people are firing on opposition leaders and activists. They are playing a farce in the name of justice. They are assaulting and killing opposition activists in jail," said Mirza Abbas during a rally preceding a black flag procession organised by the Dhaka Metropolitan South unit of BNP on Friday (25 August).
"These ill-educated people are pushing the country towards destruction. They do not love the country. They love money, and only money," He added.
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The opposition party brought out the procession demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and an election under a non-partisan government.
The BNP leaders and activists, holding banners and chanting slogans demanding the release of Khaleda Zia, marched towards the party's Naya Paltan headquarters from different areas of the capital since early morning on Friday.
Mirza Abbas said, "When we fought against the Pakistanis for the right to vote and the freedom of speech, they used to shoot at us – the Bengalis. They baton charged us. They were Pakistani police. Today, we are waging movements for the same demands and getting shot at. Are you [law enforcers] foreign police? You are shooting at the people of your own country!"
Regarding the price hike, he said, "We have been protesting against the increase of prices of commodities, oil, gas, and electricity for a long time, but the government has not been paying any heed. Currently, the price of an egg is Tk15."
Abbas also said the value of money has decreased due to the government's corruption. Those who have kept money in the bank will get 14% less than before instead of making profits.
"Thousands of crores of taka is being looted even from the cards used to pay electricity bills. The country's people will die if this government is not dismissed. The country's independence and sovereignty will be threatened," said Abbas.
He further said, "The outside world is interfering in the country's politics now. A particular country says they want the Awami League in power again. I want to tell them to make friends with the people of the country, not its government.
"The country's people do not accept elections under this government. The dream of holding elections without voting will not be allowed to be realised."
Meanwhile, during a brief rally preceding the black flag procession organised by Dhaka Metropolitan North BNP in front of Shyamoli Ring Road in the capital on Friday, BNP Standing Committee Member Amir Khasru said BRICS' refusal to grant membership to Bangladesh serves as evidence that those without legitimacy face widespread rejection.
"Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, accompanied by her family, visited South Africa using taxpayers' money in pursuit of membership within BRICS. But did she achieve it?" Amir Khasru added.
Addressing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said, "You (PM Sheikh Hasina) will be rejected by everyone as the illegitimate ones encounter rejection everywhere."
Additional law enforcement forces were deployed in different areas ahead of the BNP rally to ensure that there were not any untoward incidents.
