Condemning the recent eviction drive of Bangladesh Inland and Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) in Ghorashal area of Palash upazila in Narsingdi, BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan has said that exploiting the poor can never be the rule of law in a democratic country.

“During the drive, 300 shops were demolished, after failing to realise bribes from small traders and shopkeepers. The act of BIWTA not only destroyed their means of earning an honest livelihood but also pushed them towards starvation which is deeply heartbreaking,” he said.

Dr Moyeen Khan came up with the remarks after visiting the affected area at Saddam Bazar in Palash upazila of Narsingdi district on Sunday.

Condemning the incident, he said, "The people of the country will now think that we ousted an autocracy to establish democracy, to ensure people's rights. But even during the tenure of this government, the ghost of Awami League's autocratic past within BIWTA has oppressed innocent people in Ghorashal area. This is even more shameful than the acts of autocracy."

Over the past 15 years, BIWTA has engaged in corruption by extracting sand worth thousands crores of taka from the country's wetlands and rivers.

Those discovering 'Ziaism' have bad intentions: Amir Khosru

“BIWTA wants to enforce the law on the poor in Palash and Ghorashal areas. What law is this? Exploiting the poor cannot be the rule of law of any democratic country,” said the BNP leader.

Claiming that BIWTA's corruption has been exposed, Moyeen said “Bangladesh has achieved its second independence. Corruption and injustice will no longer prevail here.”

Issuing a warning, the BNP leader said the allies of the fallen Awami autocracy are carrying out conspiring to discredit the interim government.

He also alleged that the "ghosts" of a fallen regime, within the government, have inflicted oppression on the impoverished residents of Ghorashal in Palash.

He said the corrupt officials of the BIWTA have misappropriated thousands of crores of money through sand-related corruption over the past 15 years. "Now, they come under the guise of law. What law is this? Is there any law in the world that permits exploiting the poor? These innocent people were unlawfully evicted simply because they couldn’t pay bribes.”

Rizvi compares call for reforms before elections to AL putting development before democracy

Dr. Moyeen Khan warned that such actions would deepen the crisis for the current government.

He also urged the authorities concerned to provide compensation to the affected people soon.