BNP voices alarm over country’s economy

Accusing the government of creating a serious crisis through a lopsided election on January 7, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday (14 May) voiced concern that the country's economic situation is now very "alarming".

Talking to reporters after a meeting with a faction of Gono Odhikar Parishad, he also said their party has no remarks on the visits of US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Lu since they think people will not restore democracy relying on foreign forces.

The BNP leader also said the Awami League government has destroyed democracy and the electoral system to cling to power without public support.

“The current illegitimate regime has created a political and economic crisis by usurping power without the people's mandate...the economic situation has reached a frightening level. Being on the edge of the canal, it may collapse anytime," he observed.

The BNP leader said their party, along with 63 other political parties, has long been carrying out a simultaneous movement to get rid of this situation.

A group of Gono Odhikar Parishad leaders led by its present leader, Nurul Haque Nur, had a meeting with the liaison committee of BNP, led by Fakhrul, at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office.

Fakhrul said they discussed the country’s current political situation and the future course of action of their simultaneous movement.

Asked about Donald Lu's visit to Dhaka, Fakhrul said, "We have no comment on this matter. I have said it before, and I say it again, that we do not believe the people of Bangladesh restore their democratic rights depending on others.”

He said the people of Bangladesh have always established their rights and realized their demands by themselves using their own power. The BNP leader said the people of Bangladesh carried out democratic movements before and after 1970 and liberated the country relying on their own strength. “So, we prefer not to say much on this matter (Lu’s visit).”