Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Wednesday lambasted the Bangladesh Nationalist Party for its call for non-cooperation towards the government ahead of Jan. 7 election.
The minister raised questions over the potential consequences of the BNP’s call for non-cooperation by saying what will happen if power and gas connections are cut off for not paying bills.
His remarks came in response to the BNP's call for citizens to suspend payment of taxes, rent, and utility bills for water, gas and electricity.
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In a virtual press briefing, BNP’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that their party’s acting chief Tarique Rahman has announced the non-cooperation movement from Wednesday. He also urged the people from all walks of life and the administration not to cooperate with the government as part of their call for non-cooperation.
Rizvi also asked the people not to pay taxes to the government exchequer from now on.
The home minister reacted sharply to the BNP’s call.
"My question is, if the electricity goes off from their homes, if the water supply stops, as they want non-cooperation, then what will happen? Do they not understand the repercussions of suspending gas, electricity, and water bills? They need to consider the impact on the agencies like WASA and power departments, which serve other customers as well,” he said.
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He claimed that the BNP's decision to boycott the upcoming election was fueled by a realisation that the people of the country had turned away from them.
"And the people of this country know them, the people of this country have never responded to these calls. Our people will cast their votes in the election on time and the Election Commission will present a fair and beautiful election,” he said.
"You have been observing for some time now…I have always been saying that they know for sure that the people of this country will not vote for them, the people of this country have turned away from them by their activities," added the minister.
The home minister also accused the BNP of attempting to create chaos in the country.
"Acts of sabotage have been persistent since October 28, involving incidents such as setting buses on fire…and more recently, uprooting railway tracks," he said.
"You witnessed the tragic death of four individuals in a train engulfed in flames. Previously, a similar incident occurred in the Gazipur area. They continue to carry out these acts of sabotage,” he added.
"The prime minister will come to power with the people's mandate, and she thinks the people's mandate is the only way to change the government,” he said.