Dhaka, Oct 1 (UNB) – Welcoming the Prime Minister’s announcement to continue the drive against corruption, BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas on Tuesday hoped that ‘big corrupt elements’ belonging to the ruling party will also be arrested soon.
“You (PM) have said you started the anti-corruption purge from your own home (party) and it’ll go on. We welcome your assertion. We hope you’ll soon arrest the big fish,” he said.
Speaking at a human-chain programme, he further said, “The Prime Minister also said they will track down all irrespective of their political affiliations. We (BNP leaders) have got tired of submitting statements (of our wealth) to the Anti-Corruption Commission and court since 2006. So, now you come up with your own (wealth) statements.”
Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and withdrawal of ‘false cases’ filed against party vice chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu.
At a civic reception accorded to her in New York, USA on Saturday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said action against people involved in irregularities will continue irrespective of their political affiliations.
About the recent drive, Abbas a BNP standing committee member said the government has so far arrested only two people. “I call them (arrested two) street urchins, not small fish. If the street urchins have so much money, how much money is there in the possessions of big fish? People want to know that.”
Referring to a TIB report, he said the government spent Tk 45,000 crore to prove BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman a wrongdoer. “My question is where did you get this money and from which account was it spent?
Abbas said the onion price has increased to Tk 120-130 per kg, but the government is saying there is no reason to be worried about it. “Tell people how much the price of onion will be a matter of worry for you?’
He alleged that the onion price has shot up due to corruption by the people belonging to the ruling party.
The BNP leader said the government has sent hilsa fish to India at Tk 500 per kg ahead of Durga Puja, but the neighbouring country opened 109 Farakka sluicegate in return, pushing Bangladesh towards flood risk.
Abbas said though their party chairperson Khaleda Zia is very sick, she is not given proper treatment as the government wants to kill her in jail.
He urged the government to free Khaleda Zia from jail as per the hopes and aspirations of people.
