“It’s an anti-people government which lacks the mandate of people. I would like to say still there’s time to accept people’s demand (of revoking gas price hike move),” said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Speaking at a press conference at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he further said, “The consequences will be dire if good sense doesn’t prevail upon the government.”
The BNP leader also said people’s movement will spread in the form of wildfire someday to force the government to quit.
Rizvi criticised Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader for urging people to accept the gas-price hike decision. “People have to accept if you hold a unilateral election at midnight and rig votes through EVM. People will also have to accept if you raise the tariffs of gas and power. But who’re you?
He also said there is no difference between the attitude of the government and the robbers as it is ‘snatching’ people’s rights, money and ‘grabbing’ their wealth.
The BNP leader said their party extended support to the left parties’ half-day hartal as it was enforced in the interest of people. “BNP will support any programmes to be announced for protecting people’s interests.’”
He alleged that the government has intensified its repressive acts further by using the law enforcers to cling to power. “The government has been on a spree of filing false cases as there’s no good governance, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.”
Rizvi strongly condemned the arrest of their party’s some leaders on Friday and Saturday from in front of their Nayapaltan central office.
He demanded the government immediately release the arrested party leaders and withdraw the ‘false’ cases filed against them.