BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday alleged that the government has started a 'new game' of subduing its political opponents ahead of the 12th parliamentary election.

"As the election draws near, the government has started resorting to a new game with false cases. They're trying to play a game in the name of election. They want to overcome the electoral hurdle by holding a lopsided election after arresting the opposition leaders and activists in false cases,” he said.

The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a rally organized by Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the soaring prices of daily essentials.

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Fakhrul denounced the arrest of their party leader Ishraque Hossain from the city’s Motijheel area in a ‘false’ case while distributing leaflets against the price hikes in commodities.

He said the prices of essential items have skyrocketed due to the government’s failure to monitor the market.

 "The price of every commodity has gone up while corruption is rampant in every economic sector.  This is completely a failed regime and it is badly harming the country,” he observed.

The BNP leader slammed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for advising people to use pumpkin as an alternative to eggplant for making ‘Beguni’. "We can't afford to buy a cucumber and an eggplant during this month. It’s regrettable when the Prime Minister gives us a new recipe for making ‘Beguni’ with pumpkin."

He said the ruling party leaders are making undamaged comments having failed to ensure affordable prices of rice, pulses, eggplant, cucumber and other items. "The government is using the whole state system to make a handful of people rich."

About the current outbreak of diarrhoea in Dhaka city, the BNP secretary general said, the country is now witnessing the worst diarrhoea outbreak in 62 years. “Why’re so many patients now. Because, every tap water (supplied by Wasa) of Dhaka city is polluted. The water in the (Wasa’s) line smells bad and carries bacteria. That’s why 1400-1500 diarrhoea cases are being recorded every day.”

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Fakhrul described Dhaka Wasa MD Taksim A Khan, who has been there in the same post for over 10 years, as the highest-paid government official. “Attempts were made to remove him several times, but he could not be removed as he is the favourite person of the head of the government.”

He said the government has kept incompetent persons in important  posts of different institutions.