Awami League becomes politically ‘bankrupt’: Mirza Fakhrul
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the ruling Awami League (AL) has become a politically bankrupt party as it holds nothing to offer the people. That’s why the party leaders are leading propaganda against the grave of Ziaur Rahman.
He said AL leaders are creating issues over Ziaur Rahman, his involvement in the 1971 Liberation War and his grave because they have nothing to do with politics and serving the people. Actually the mass vaccination issue should be their greatest priority because Covid-19 vaccine is a necessity to save human life.
“How much doses have you collected yet?” Fakhrul asked the question to the government.
He made this conversation while addressing a commemoration meeting as the chief guest at the National Press Club in Dhaka. Jatiya Party (Zafar) organised the event marking 6th death anniversary of Kazi Zafar Ahmed, founding chairman of a faction of Jatiya Party and former prime minister. Zafar was also one of the organisers of the Liberation War.
Our government is too weak and submissive to external power and that's why it cannot protest against the border killing
In his speech, the BNP secretary general recommended that the incumbent health minister should be appointed as ‘astrology minister’ as the person under question has been promising about more vaccine doses to arrive in the country. “But what is the reality? So far, less than 4 per cent of the population is vaccinated. The government is responsible for the shortage of vaccine doses. Bangladesh received only seven million AstraZeneca doses despite had paid in advance for 30 million doses. The government allowed this just to facilitate corruption of a particular person,” Fakhrul alleged.
Citing that journalists in the country have been practicing self-censorship to escape the Digital Security Act and other consequences, the leader of the de facto opposition apprehended that the existing crisis would be intensified as long as AL grabs state power.
BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, now on bail, instructs party men to remain brave and strong with morale because she believes in people’s victory
He slammed the cabinet members for defending killing by India's Border Security Force along the Bangladesh-India border. This is an authoritarian statement that people are shot dead while smuggling cattle. But which civilization and country in the current world allows shooting criminals at first? A criminal must be interrogated and tried accordingly. The legal process determines punishment of the accused. But shoot at sight while trespassing border happens only in Bangladesh. Our government is too weak and submissive to external power and that's why it cannot protest against the border killing.
Due to weak diplomacy, Fakhrul continued, Bangladesh could not repatriate a single Rohingya to Myanmar. The country’s diplomatic approaches failed to attract international attention.
He said BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, now on bail, instructs party men to remain brave and strong with morale because she believes in people’s victory.
Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury addressed the meeting as the special guest.
Jatiya Party (Zafar) acting secretary general Ahsan Habib, BNP organising secretary for Dhaka division Fazlul Haque, Bangladesh Labour Party chairman Mostafizur Rahman, among others, also spoke. Former minister Mostafa Jamal Haider chaired the meeting.