BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said life has become miserable in Bangladesh as the government has failed to ensure vaccine shots for people due to 'massive corruption' in the health sector.
“The health sector is in a sorry state. So far, there’s no guarantee for people to have vaccine jabs as those involved in the health sector and vaccine procurement are bogged down in corruption,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a roundtable discussion arranged by Zia Parishad central committee at the Jatiya Press Club, marking party founder Ziaur Rahman’s 40th death anniversary.
Fakhrul accused the government of destroying the economy in a planned way by establishing a reign of plundering in the country. “They’re taking mega projects and plundering public money. A project worth Tk 10,000 crore is becoming a project worth Tk 50,000 crore. This is how they’re formulating mega projects as money-making tools."
He said the government is making allocations for unproductive activities like erecting big gates in educational institutions. “It’s now more important to build classrooms than gates, but they’re not doing that.”
READ: Journalists exercising self-censorship out of fear: Fakhrul
The BNP leader said now there is no security of people in the country due to a sharp rise in social crimes. “Now we see horrible incidents, including murders, while we open newspapers. The incident that came in today's (Sunday’s) newspapers is that a girl has killed her parents and sister. Such incidents reflect the country’s socio-economic condition.”
He bemoaned that there is a serious social degradation in Bangladesh for lack of democracy and the government’s accountability to people.
Fakhrul said farmers are passing through a very difficult time as the government is unable to take necessary steps to ensure the fair prices of their produces.
Speaking at the programme, BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said their party founder Ziaur Rahman ensured the dignity of people by developing the country and creating job opportunities through various initiatives.
“He had also planted a garden of multiparty democracy on the grave of one-party rule. But those who’re now in power have been making continuous efforts to demean him with their unguarded comments.”
READ: Shun infighting first to launch oust-govt movement: Fakhrul to BNP leaders
He called upon all to get united to ‘restore’ democracy and establish a pro-people government in the country through an effective movement.