BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday (June 2, 2023) termed the proposed national budget of Bangladesh for the next fiscal year (2023-24) unrealistic and said it will not help overcome a dire economic crisis the country is facing now. “The government is saying an excellent budget has been placed which would bring about change. Our controlled media are saying the budget can’t bring any relief to people.  They (govt) have completely failed to place a budget that can help get out of terrible economic crisis amid the growing price hikes in essentials,” he said. Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said it is a vague budget where there is no clear indication of how and from where the money will come and how the growth will be achieved. “That is why economists are saying the budget is devoid of reality.” Bangladesh Sammilito Peshajibi Parishad, a body of pro-BNP professionals, arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 42nd death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman. Read more: Budget not based on IMF conditions: Finance Minister Earlier on Thursday, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal presented a Tk7,61,785 crore proposed national budget for the 2023–24 fiscal year in the national parliament with 7.5 percent  GDP growth. Fakhrul said the government has widened the tax net to exploit the common people. “Even if you want to beg, you have to have a TIN number now...those who are exempted from income tax will also have to pay income tax of Tk2000.” He said the government is taking mega projects for plundering by cutting the pockets of the common people. The BNP leader said ordinary people are suffering seriously as they cannot afford daily necessities due to abnormal price hikes. Read more: CPD dismisses budget's projections on growth, inflation, revenue collection  He said the prices of rice, pulses, oil, salt, onion and ginger have already gone beyond the buying capacity of common people. The BNP leader said the current government can no longer be kept in power as it is ruining the future of the nation every day and every moment. “It (govt) is also destroying our potential and dignity. That's why we all need to be united.” Fakhrul said their party wants a free, fair and neutral election under a non-party caretaker government to restore people’s voting rights and democracy. “From past experiences, we can say the election will never be fair under Awami League without a neutral caretaker government, “he said. Read more: Budget 2023-24: Govt allocates Tk88,162 crore in education sector, up 8.2%  The BNP leader urged the government to quit power with dignity before time runs out fast.  “Enough is enough, please now go away without hurting the people, Resign by handing over power to a caretaker government. Otherwise, the country’s people know very well how to unset you,” he said pointing at the government of Bangladesh.

BNP and like-minded parties will hold rallies in all metropolitan cities on March 18 to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government. The fresh programme of the simultaneous movement came from the opposition’s human chain programme observed in all district towns and 13 organisational divisional cities, including Dhaka on Saturday. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Alamgir announced the programme while addressing a human chain in front of the party’s Nayaplatan central office. The senior leaders of BNP and its alliance partners also led the human chains in different areas of the capital, others cities and districts downs and announced a similar programme for March 18.  The programme is also meant for registering the opposition parties’ protest against the rise in the prices of power, gas and essential items, and mounting pressure on the government to quit power and to release BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia without any condition, drop the 'false' cases against her and other party leaders and activist and accept the party’s 10-point demand. Apart from BNP, Ganotantra Mancha, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote, Gonoforum and People's Party, Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote Peshajibi Ganatantrik Jote formed human chains separately and announced a similar programme for March 18. The Dhaka south and north city units of BNP formed human chains separately in the city’s Nayaplatan and Badda areas respectively. Read more: BNP now announces human chain on March 11

The nationwide march programme at union-level by the BNP to press home their 10-point demand, including holding the next general election under a non-party caretaker government, was observed in all the unions on Saturday amid clashes with police and obstruction by ruling party activists. However, Ganatantra Mancha, Ganatantrik Bam Oikya, the 12-Party Alliance, Samamona Jote, LDP, Gonoforum, and People’s Party, observed a similar programme in different areas of the capital peacefully as part of their simultaneous movement. The leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies alleged that the police and the Awami League activists obstructed them while holding the programme in different areas. Contacted, BNP assistant office secretary Taiful Islam Tipu told UNB that their party leaders and activists were attacked and obstructed by police and ruling party activists in almost every district of the country. “We’re collecting information of the attacks and our party senior leaders will come up with detailed information on it at a press conference at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office at 12pm on Sunday,” he said. Tipu said their party leaders and activists came under attacks at least in 50 places across the country while observing the march programme, leaving more than 300 people injured. Besides, he said over 200 BNP leaders were arrested in different areas while offices of the BNP and the houses of the party leaders were also attacked in some areas.  UNB correspondents in Narayanganj, Sirajganj, Natore, Kurigran, Bhola, Noakhali, Jashore, Lalmonirhat, Bogura, Jamalpur, Gazipur, Barguna, Patuakhali, Jhalokati, Tangail, Munshiganj, Narsingdi Mymensingh, Cumilla, Rajshahi and Nilphamari reported the incidents of clashes and obstructions over the BNP’s march programmes. Around 300 opposition activists were injured in clashes with police and the ruling party AL men and police in different places. In Narayanganj, at least BNP activists were injured in a clash between police and BNP during their march at Panchrukhi in Araihazar upazila. Lutfur Rahman, former joint secretary of the district unit BNP, said police attacked their procession Panchrukhi, leading to a chase and counter-chase.