BNP criticizes PM's statement over question leak

Senior BNP leaders have harshly criticized Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her remarks regarding the question leak spree that is plaguing the ongoing Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations. Talking to reporters on Monday, Hasina had said: “Questions papers were leaked earlier as well, but it wasn’t publicized as much. I have learned that most questions papers were leaked 20 minutes or an hour before the exams. Tell me how talented are these students that they can solve the answers within this time?” She also said: “The minister or secretary [of the education ministry] have not leaked the questions. So why should they resign?” Responding to her comments, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam on Tuesday said the prime minister’s statement proved that she was supporting question leaks. “The government is involved in making the nation meritless,” he said addressing a human chain protest in from the National Press Club in Dhaka. At a press briefing in BNP’s Naya Paltan headquarters later in the day, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also berated the prime minister saying her support to question leaks was proof that the government does not want an educated nation. Due to that mindset, he alleged, more and more students were securing GPA 5 nowadays without even writing properly in their answer sheets during the exams. BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi addresses a press conference at the party's Naya Paltan headquarters in Dhaka on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 | Focus BanglaThe prime minister at Monday’s briefing had also said that the 11th general election would be held on time at the end of this year and the government would have nothing to do if BNP decides to boycott it. Referring to that, Rizvi said: “The prime minister’s language is similar to that of a dictator. Her statement has frustrated the nation and proves that she does not want a participatory election.”

'Why is Joy ICT adviser to PM?'

The prime minister on Monday had heavily criticized BNP for making now incarcerated BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman the acting chief of the party. Khaleda is now in jail for five years after a special court found her guilty in a corruption case. “Don’t they [BNP] have any leader (except Tarique), who could lead the party, that they had to resort to a convicted, corrupt person?” Hasina, also the Awami League chief, had asked. Drawing her attention in this regard, Rizvi on Tuesday said the government’s attempt to trap BNP through jailing Khaleda had failed as Tarique has taken the party’s lead. He also asked the prime minister why she has made her son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy her ICT affairs adviser. “Bangladesh has many internationally recognized ICT experts. But still you (Hasina) made your son your ICT adviser. Isn't that nepotism?” Rizvi said question leaks were also a result of failure in maintaining the information and communications technology. “The prime minister has made such statements to cover that failure.”