National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Opposition Chief Whip Nahid Islam has accused Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of having no plan to govern the country, alleging that he returned from London with plans for corruption, plundering, extortion and land grabbing.
Speaking as the chief guest at a mass protest rally organized by the NCP's Dhaka North and South units in front of the National Museum in Shahbagh on Friday afternoon, Nahid said: “Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has no plan to run the country. Instead of addressing people's problems, he has come from London with plans for corruption, plundering, extortion and land grabbing.”
He also accused the BNP government of failing to fulfill its commitments under the July Charter, the 31-point agenda and its election manifesto.
“After thousands of people shed their blood, we ousted one autocrat. Now we are witnessing the rise of a new autocrat. We will defeat both the fallen autocrat and this new autocrat,” he said.
Nahid said NCP leaders had visited different parts of the capital over the past week and spoken to residents about their problems. They found that many households had no gas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinder prices had increased, and people were struggling with rising commodity prices.
He added that shopkeepers and small business owners were living in fear of extortion and terrorism. Electricity and gas shortages, politicization of various state institutions and deteriorating law and order were also affecting public safety.
The NCP convener accused the home minister of focusing on the constitution instead of carrying out his responsibilities. He alleged that an initiative had been taken to amend the constitution unilaterally, disregarding the July Charter and the public mandate expressed through the referendum.
Claiming that 70% of voters had supported reforms in the referendum, Nahid demanded the cancellation of the unilateral constitutional amendment committee and the formation of a Constitution Reform Council.
He said both the home minister and the energy minister had failed to perform their respective responsibilities and must take accountability for their failures. Otherwise, he warned, the movement would spread across the country.
Referring to discussions about the fallen Awami League autocrat potentially returning to the country next December, Nahid said the current government would not be able to confront the Awami League.
He also said the BNP had failed to protect the people of Bangladesh from the Awami League during its 16 years in power. Calling on young people to unite, he urged them to stand against both fascist forces and the current government.
Nahid also raised concerns over the killing of Bangladeshi citizens along the border and unrest in the hills. He referred to the persecution of Muslims in India's Assam and West Bengal and the demolition of mosques in Delhi.
Mentioning Felani Khatun and Swarna Das in connection with border killings, he alleged that more than 10 Bangladeshi citizens had been killed during the tenure of the current government.
Nahid warned that people would not accept any initiative to establish an illegal corridor through Bangladesh in connection with India. He also said people would return to the streets if Bangladesh's fair share of water was not ensured under the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty.