Daily Bangla Times: The Dhaka south and north city units of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party jointly organise a rally in front of the party’s Naya Paltan central office on Saturday to press home the party’s 10-point charter of demands. — New Age photo

The all-pervasive corruption by the current government has robbed the country of its resources as the Awami League’s main objective is to indulge in graft and siphoning off money abroad, said main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday.

‘There is a slogan in India — thieves are in every alley and lane — and this leader, I don’t want to mention anyone’s name, is a thief. Now our slogan is “vote thief”,’ he said.

Speaking at a rally in the city, the BNP leader said that the current ruling party was not only a vote thief but was also a thief of Bangladesh’s economy. ‘The entire country and the economy have been ruined because of the Awami League’s corruption.’

A people’s government, in its true sense, must be established by removing the corrupt one, he went on to say.

He said that the BNP, together with other parties and people of the country, would force the Awami League regime to quit and hold the next polls under a caretaker government by dissolving the parliament.

Fakhrul called upon party leaders and activists to get ready to intensify the ongoing movement.  ‘The government, which has been in power by force without elections by using the state machinery, must be forced to quit by applying all our strengths.’

Stating that 17 leaders and activists of the BNP have lost their lives in the ongoing anti-government movement since August 22, 2022, he said that there was no alternative for the BNP to making the struggle a success to honour the sacrifices of the slain party men.

The BNP Dhaka south and north city units together organised the rally in front of the party’s Naya Paltan central office to press home their 10-point demands, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government.

The protest was also meant for registering the opposition party’s protest against the ‘all-pervasive corruption’ by the Awami  League government, rise in the prices of power, gas and essential items and for mounting pressure on the government to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia without any condition, essentially to drop the ‘false’ cases against her.

Referring to a report carried by British weekly The Economist, the BNP leader said that the admired development model of Bangladesh had collapsed like a cracked balloon due to rising corruption.

Fakhrul said that there was no option but to unseat the government to get rid of corruption. ‘The country’s existence will be at stake if this regime clings to power.’

He also questioned the justification of the Tk 7 lakh Hajj package announced by the government this year. ‘Such a bad game is their old habit. The common people who intend to perform Hajj have to pay Tk 7 lakh. Whereas the cost is 2.5 lakh rupees in India and four lakh rupees in Pakistan. Then why should it be Tk 7 lakh in Bangladesh?’

As part of the day’s programme under the simultaneous opposition movement, the BNP also arranged rallies in all other metropolitan cities across the country.

Apart from the BNP, the Ganatantra Mancha, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Gono Forum, People’s Party, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Peshajibi Ganatantrik Jote, 12-party alliance, Bam Ganatantrik Oikya and LDP held separate rallies in different areas of the capital.

BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury in Chattogram on the day alleged that the prices of daily commodities increased due to syndicates led by Awami League leaders and activists, New Age correspondent in Chattogram reported.

He made this allegation while addressing a rally organised by the BNP Chattogram City Unit on Saturday noon on Nur Ahmed Road.

‘Commodity prices have gone beyond people’s purchasing power. It has become difficult for the general people to buy the daily commodities. It is difficult to pay school fees, it is difficult to meet medical expenses,’ said Amir Khasru.

Our Rajshahi correspondent added that the BNP Rajshahi city unit held a rally at Bhuban Mohon Park in Malopara area to press home the 10-point demands, including the resignation of the incumbent AL government, New Age staff correspondent in the district reported.

BNP vice-chairman AZM Zahid Hossain addressed the rally as the chief guest with city unit convener freedom fighter Ershad Ali Esha in the chair.

Party chairperson’s adviser Mizanur Rahman Minu addressed the rally as the key speaker, while Rajshahi divisional organising secretary Ruhul Quddus Talukdar Dulu, assistant organising secretaries Mosaddeque Hossain Bulbul and Shahin Shawkat and Rajshahi city unit’s former general secretary Shafiqul Haque Milon were present as the special guests. The city unit member secretary Mamun-ur-Rashid conducted the programme.

In his speech, Zahid said that the illegal AL government would fall in the face of BNP’s simultaneous movement.

‘After this regime’s fall, the government elected by the people under a neutral government will hold trials of the corruption and murders committed by the AL’, he said.

Ruhul QuddusTalukdar urged the party leaders and activists to be vigilant so that the AL leaders and activists could not escape to India through Rajshahi borders as the running year was Sheikh Hasina’s last year.