Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the instruction at a press briefing after a meeting its standing committee members at BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.
“Our standing committee voiced deep concern over the flood caused by incessant rain and onrush of water from India. We call upon our party leaders and activists at all levels to stand beside the flood-affected people,” he said.
Fakhrul said their meeting has decided to make active the party’s central committee on relief and send relief materials to the flood-hit areas.
The overall flood situation in northern and northeastern districts has deteriorated as heavy rains and onrush of water from the upstream India continued on Saturday.
Thousands of people remained marooned in the flood-affected districts while shortage of food and drinking water has mounted the woes of the victims.
Fakhrul said their meeting viewed that the government has failed to take any effective step for resolving the Rohingya crisis which is badly affecting the country’s economy.
“We had a hope that a positive outcome would come from the Prime Minister’s visit to China. But we don’t see any good response from China as the country is rigid on its same stance. We didn’t find any concrete assurance from the China authorities in this regard,” he added.
He said their meeting also expressed worry as the government’s financial management system, especially the banking one, has badly collapsed. “Bangladesh Bank shut down People's Leasing and Financial Services Limited three days back without repaying Tk 236 crore of depositors. It’s an unprecedented incident,” the BNP leader observed.
“We think this is a sign of the shattered banking system. We strongly condemn the shutting down of People’s Leasing and Financial Company unilaterally by the Bangladesh Bank without repaying depositors’ money and making alternative job arrangements for its officials and employees,” he said.
Fakhrul said their party will announce programmes demanding restoration of discipline in the banking sector and the capital market.
Besides, he said, their party will soon start holding rallies in different divisions demanding their Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release.
As per the schedule they have so far finalised, the BNP leader said their first rally will be held in Barishal on July 18 then then in Chattogram on July 20 and in Khulna on July 25. “We hope to hold rallies in all the divisional cities by July 30.”
He said their chairperson’s health condition did not improve but deteriorated though she has long been undergoing treatment at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hospital.
Fakhrul demanded the government immediately release Khaleda Zia and ensure proper treatment of her.
Apart from Fakhrul, BNP standing committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Moudud Ahmed, Jamiruddin Sircar, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and Selima Rahman attended the meeting.