Will firmly resist those obstructing reforms, Hasnat warns Secretariat, NBR protesters
"Before 5 August, you didn't dare to question Sheikh Hasina. When children and ordinary citizens of the country were being shot and killed in the streets, did a single secretary, bureaucrat, or government official resign?" asks the NCP leader
"No one will get away with holding the government hostage. If anyone obstructs the reform processes, we will firmly resist it with the people's support," said National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser (South) Hasnat Abdullah today (26 May), warning protesters at the Secretariat and the National Board of Revenue (NBR).
"Today, there are protests at the Secretariat. NBR's reform processes are also being obstructed. Yet during the July mass uprising, these same people wore black badges and worked in offices supporting Sheikh Hasina.
"These same people now threaten to shut down offices," he told reporters at a gathering in front of Biplab Udyan at Sholashahar in Chattogram city at the beginning of his organisational visit to the district.
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"Before 5 August, you didn't dare to question Sheikh Hasina. When children and ordinary citizens of the country were being shot and killed in the streets, did a single secretary, bureaucrat, or government official resign?" Hasnat asked.
He said, "Since independence, the Secretariat had symbolised ordinary people's helpless suffering, while NBR became a den of corruption. We want to say in strong terms that if Sheikh Hasina hadn't fallen on 5 August, you would still be working today by licking the boots of the fascist government."
Addressing the protesters, who he says are obstructing the government's reform initiatives, Hasnat said, "As the government undertook public welfare reforms, a certain class of bureaucrats has become an obstacle. I want to say clearly that there are millions of Hasnat Abdullahs in the country who will thwart these conspiracies."
"If anyone has objections to the government's reform programmes, they should express them through discussion. But holding the government hostage will not improve the situation," he added.
As part of his tour, Hasnat is scheduled to speak at street rallies in six upazilas of Chattogram, including Rangunia's Lichubagan, Raujan Bus Stand, Hathazari Dak Bungalow, Fatikchhari's Bibirhat, Mirsarai's Bariyarhat Bazar, and Sitakunda Bazar.
Accompanying him on the tour are NCP Senior Joint Member Secretary Dr Tasnim Zara, Joint Member Secretary Mir Arshadul Haque, Joint Chief Organisers Dr Mahmuda Alam Mitu and Md Ataullah, and Central Organiser Arman Hossain.
NCP leaders also attended multiple street rallies in Chattogram yesterday (25 May).
