BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday alleged that gunning down Jubo Dal activist Shaon Mahmud is like killing democracy. Talking to reporters after visiting Shaon’s house here, he also said the government has violated people's democratic and human rights by attacking BNP’s peaceful programmes and firing at party leaders and activists in different parts of the country. "Shaon's murder was not just the killing of a person. He lost his life for raising his voice in favour of democracy and people’s rights and demands. It’s the killing of an ideal and the killing of democracy and people's dreams," Fakhrul said. Read:BNP vows to avenge blood of its slain workers by ousting the govt The BNP secretary general claimed police killed Shaon by firing at a peaceful rally marking the 44th founding anniversary of their party. "My brother Shaon was shot dead. His sacrifice will strengthen the democracy of this country and it’ll further accelerate our movement. We’ll continue our movement in a peaceful and democratic manner,” he observed. Trashing police officers’ comment that Shaon was not a Jubo Dal activist, Fakhrul said, “He was a tested, proven and dynamic activist of Jubo Dal…say he doesn't belong to Jubo Dal,  but who gave you the right to shoot a person dead?” He called upon the law enforcers not to comply with any unjust order of the government. “Don't shoot innocent people. You must allow the peaceful programmes." Stating that their party does not believe in terrorism and violence, the BNP leader said, “I would like to tell the police brothers and law enforcement forces that you’re not our enemy. You are children of this country. It's your responsibility to protect the independence of the country. It's not your responsibility to shoot at innocent people just listening to Awami League.” He also warned that the law enforcers must be held accountable and put on trial for such killings someday. “So please don't shoot people like birds unjustly.” Fakhrul alleged that the fascist Awami League government has snatched the voting and other rights of the country’s people by annihilating democracy for 15 years. Read:“BNP will form commission to identify Zia’s killers if we return to power” He recalled that police recently killed Swechchasebak Dal leader Abdur Rahim and Chhatra Dal leader Noor-e-Alam in Bhola in the same way by spraying bullets at a peaceful procession of BNP. “This can’t continue in this democratic country.” The BNP leader said their party’s founding anniversary programmes were attacked in different other districts, including Manikganj, Sirajganj, Netrakona, Narail and Cumilla. Fakhrul along with some party leaders visited the slain Jubo Dal activist Shawon’s family at East Golap Nagar area in Fatullah around 12noon. He talked to Sahon’s bereaved mother Farida Begum and expressed his profound sympathy to her. The BNP leader also hugged Shaon's brother Farhad Hossain and consoled him. On behalf of the party, he also provided Shaon’s mother with Tk one lakh as financial assistance. Meanwhile, a case was filed with Narayanganj  Sadar Police Station against 5,000 anonymous people on Thursday night over the death of Shaon allegedly by a bullet fired by police here on Thursday during a clash between the law enforcers and BNP activists.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday demanded that a list of those who siphoned off huge amounts of money abroad and their abettors be made public.  "Our question is, how many PK Halders  are there (in the county)? How many such people are there? We have seen (media reports) that they (AL leaders) are indulging in siphoning of money by plundering thousands of crores of taka from the country,” he said.  Speaking at a programme on occasion of the Buddha Purnima, the BNP leader said their party wants to know how many thousands of crores of taka have been laundered in this way.  “We also strongly demand the government to make public clearly the way the money was laundered and the names of those who were involved in it and their abettors,” BNP arranged the programme at its chairperson’s Gulshan office and exchanged greetings with the  Buddhist community members, marking Buddha Purnima.  Also read: AL leaders’ plunder of public money a historical fact: BNP Fakhrul said it is the responsibility of the Anti-Corruption Commission ((ACC) to investigate and expose the incidents of corruption, theft and money laundering.  But, he bemoaned that the ACC has long been only harassing the leaders of BNP and catching some small fries.  The BNP leader called upon the ACC to play a proactive role in catching the big fishes those who are associated with the present government and bring them to justice through proper investigation.  He said Awami League General Secretray Obaidul Quader himself admitted that their party leaders siphoned off huge amount of money abroad through his recent remarks that those who had laundered thousands of crores of taka would not be given the leadership of the Awami League.   Fakhrul urged people of all walks of life to get united to come out of the current miserable situation of the country and restore all by ousting the present government. Also read: BNP won’t fall for govt’s false assurance in joining polls: Zainul Abedin  "Let us all work together and wage a united movement to remove this horrible government and establish a truly representative parliament and government through a fair election under a truly non-partisan neutral government,” he said. BNP senior leaders and the leaders of Buddhist community from different parts of the country were present at the programme.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday accused the government of giving false statistics to people about the country's foreign exchange reserves and per capita income. "Those who’re now ruling the country are resorting to lies and deception. They’re talking about $46 billion reserves. But the IMF says it has actually inflated by 15 percent. Fake statistics have been given,” he said. Speaking at a programme of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal, Fakhrul said the government has overstated the foreign exchange reserves by around $7 billion. The event was held at the chairperson's office in Gulshan on the occasion of launching the Krishak Dal’s member recruitment programme. Three field-level farmers received the membership of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal from the hands of Fakhrul by filling its form. The BNP leader said the government is also talking about increasing per capita income. “If it happened, why did our brother Shafiuddin commit suicide?...in every case, those who usurped power using state machinery always lie." READ: AL destroyed Language Movement spirit: BNP He said the government used to talk about production and development. “It seems that they’re covering everything with gold in Bangladesh. But we saw media reports yesterday (Tuesday) that Bangladesh still has to import 67 lakh metric tonnes of food. It has proved that the government’s claim of attaining food autarky is nothing but trickery.” Fakhrul said it is the character of the Awami League to create a sensation by resorting to lies and misleading people. Criticising the government, he said the government has thrown the farmers into extreme problems by increasing the prices of fertiliser and other agri-inputs. “Do you remember that they (govt) had said they would give you rice at Tk10 per kg? Did they do it?  The price of per kg rice is now Tk60-70.” He said the government had also promised to provide farmers with fertilizer free of cost. “The price of fertilizer is now three-four times higher.” Fakhrul said people are going through serious ordeals because of the unusual price hike of all the commodities. "The price of everything has gone up 10-15 times. The tariffs of gas, water and electricity have also been raised. People are now angry as they’re in a miserable situation. People want to get out of this situation.” Stating their party will soon declare programmes to intensify the anti-government movement, he urged the Krishak Dal leaders to involve the farmers with the movement to make it a success.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday alleged that the government is conspiring to 'kill' their party’s ‘critically ill chairperson Khaleda Zia slowly by not allowing her to go abroad for advanced treatment.“We want you (govt) to let her (Khaleda) go abroad for treatment. It’s a minimum demand. It’s not a matter of kindness, magnanimity and humanity as it’s her civic right. You’re saying she's a convicted person.  A convicted person is a citizen of the country who has the civic right,” he said.Speaking at a human-chain programme, the BNP leader said the country’s most political parties, various organisations and intellectuals have long been urging the government to give her a scope for treatment outside the country. READ: 23 noted citizens urge govt to let Khaleda go abroad for treatment “But our leader Begum Khaleda Zia is being killed slowly very consciously by convicting her in false cases. The world knows it,” he said.Fakhrul warned that people have started waking up and they will oust the government through a strong mass upsurge if anything bad happens to Khaleda for lack of treatment abroad.  Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the BNP chief’s treatment abroad.About Khaleda’s health condition, Fakhrul said she is bleeding and if it continues for a long time she will not survive."You all know she (Khaleda) has been suffering from liver cirrhosis. “This s a very critical disease. There’s no such treatment for this disease in our country. This disease is treated better only in the United States, the UK and Germany,” he said.The BNP leader said Khaleda has been fighting for life every moment at Evercare Hospital. “Under such a situation, we've to play a big role. We must wake up and establish justice, fairness, and a democratic government and free our leader Khaleda Zia."He urged all to pray for the recovery of the BNP chief on this holy day of Juma’.Khaleda, a 76-year-old former prime minister, has been receiving treatment at Evercare Hospital for various health complications since November 13.Her medical board members said Khaleda immediately needs to go abroad for better treatment as she was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. READ: Khaleda’s treatment not possible in Bangladesh with foreign doctors: DAB On behalf of her family, Khaleda's younger brother, Shamim Iskander, submitted an application to the Home Ministry on November 11 urging the government to allow her to go abroad for better treatment.However, Law Minister Anisul Huq said the government will consider Khaleda Zia’s appeal if she submits a fresh petition after returning to jail.