Stating that the unusual hike in fuel prices has left people in the lurch, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said the Awami League government can no longer be allowed to cling to power.
“This regime has destroyed our politics, economy and our potential. So it can’t be allowed to remain in power anymore,” he said.
Speaking at a rally, the BNP leader said the government has brought a disaster to the country by hiking the fuel price abruptly on Friday night as it will push up the prices of all commodities, fertilizer and other farm inputs and transportation costs, reports UNB.
“It’ll have a very negative impact on our economy and our economic condition will worsen further,” he warned.
Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal arranged the rally in front of BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, protesting the killing of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal's Bhola district unit president Noor-e-Alam and local Swechchasebal Dal leader Abdur Rahim in police firing on July 31.
Fakhrul said the government argued behind the increase in fuel prices that Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) is incurring losses.
“Why it will go into loss? The BPC made a huge profit of around Tk 390.00 billion in the previous years. At that time, the price of oil was low in the international market, but you didn’t reduce it. Even, the fuel prices have now started to decrease in the international market,” the BNP leader said.
He slammed the information minister for his comment that the fuel prices are comparatively lower in Bangladesh than in many other countries, saying the ruling party leaders give people wrong information and statistics to confuse them. “Their every information is incorrect. So, we urge people not to get confused by false information.”
“The oil price was $14 in the USA, but it has now dropped to $3 due to the price fall in the international market. It means the other countries lower the oil price when it falls in the international market. But when the price of oil declines in the international market, it increases in our country for plundering public money,” Fakhrul observed.
He said the fresh hike in fuel prices, especially diesel, has left the farmers, common people and bike riders in serious miseries. “But the government is least bothered about it. Because they need police, RAB, BGB and other forces, not people, to run the country. It won’t continue anymore. People of the country will no longer allow this regime to run the country in this way.”
Fakhrul alleged that Awami League has been illegally staying in power for 15 years by force using the state machinery, including police, RAB and BGB.
“You’ve already killed many people and made many others disappear only to stay in power. In continuation of that, you have killed our Noor-e-Alam and Abdur Rahim,” he said.
The BNP leader alleged that Bhola Sadar Model Police Station's officer-in-charge (OC Investigation) Arman Hossain opened fire at the BNP rally on July 31, killing Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim on the spot and critically injuring JCD leader Noor-e-Alam who later died at a hospital in the capital.
“We want the government to arrest this police officer immediately and take proper action against him through a judicial investigation into the incident,” Fakhrul said.