BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday bemoaned that the major cities in Bangladesh, including Dhaka, have become poisonous-gas chambers due to widespread pollution.

"The Prime Minister has gone to Glasgow. Wow! Dhaka has the highest rate of air pollution in South Asia. Dhaka, Chattogram and other cities of Bangladesh are now toxic-gas chambers. In fact, Bangladesh is a poisonous-gas chamber,” he said.

Speaking at a human-chain programme, the BNP leader also said the Prime Minister went to the Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, after destroying the trees, fish and water of Bangladesh. “How self-contradictory it can be!”

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The Dhaka district unit of BNP arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the soaring prices of daily essentials.

Rizvi said all the opposition parties, environmentalists and civil society organisations opposed coal-fired power station at Rampal Upazila of Bagerhat near the Sundarbans, but the government has given permission to set up it.

He said the Prime Minister who is constructing the Rampal power plant to destroy the Sundarbans has gone to the world climate conference in Glasgow. “It’s like that an old woman wants to dance, but she doesn't know there’s no rhythm in her performance.”

On Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to Scotland as she embarked on a two-week visit to the United Kingdom and France to attend the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) and other events.

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‘Looters’ hiking prices

Speaking at the same progarmme, BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy alleged that the prices daily essentials are pushing up by the ruling party-backed plunderers despite having the adequate supply of goods.

"The prices of goods usually go up when there’s a scarcity or low production and low supply to the market. There’s now no shortage of goods and all items are there in the market, but their prices are high. When the supply of goods is sufficient, the prices of essentials are being hiked only in the interest of the Awami-looters syndicate,“ he said.

The BNP leader said common people are going through serious suffering due to the growing price hike of the daily essentials. 

He alleged that people of no religion and community is now safe in the country as there is no democracy. “But the corrupt, bribe-takers and those who go to TVs and tell lies in favour of government are safe.”