'Country’s independence-sovereignty no longer secure under current govt': Mirza Abbas
"Those in government are extorting money. Tk90,000 crore has been laundered in the last eight months," he says

The independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh are no longer secure under the current government, BNP Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas said today (15 May).
"Those in government are extorting money. Tk90,000 crore has been laundered in the last eight months. There is no peace in the country now," he said while speaking at a party event at Cumilla District Shilpakala Academy.
He also stated that "it is true that Awami League government laundered thousands of crores of taka from the country."
Abbas said, "The individuals who did not take part in the party's previous movements or street protests are now misusing BNP's name to extort money."
"There are people, in the guise of BNP, who are working to free Awami League activists arrested by the police. We must remember, no concessions were given to us during our movements on the streets. Every veteran leader and activist of BNP has faced jail or attack," he said.
Mentioning that a coordinated opposition is forming against BNP, he said, "Tarique Rahman expelled over a thousand individuals who were involved in extortion. Now the people linked with the government are involved in extortion.
"There is no peace in the country now, and no media outlet dares to report against the government — just as they couldn't during Awami League's rule," he said.
Reaffirming his loyalty to BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, Abbas said, "I firmly believe that our leader Zia sacrificed his life for the independence and sovereignty of this country, and that very independence is in danger today. We once faced dogs, now we are facing tigers. The people's right to vote must be restored."