Dhaka – BNP on Monday demanded the government immediately declare the hillslide-hit areas of the country as ‘disaster zones’, and stand by the victims with necessary support. -UNB
The party also demanded that state mourning be announced over the deaths of huge number of people in landslides, in Rangamati, Khagrachari, Chittagong and other areas of the country.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the demand at an iftar party arranged by Jatiyatabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (Jasas) at Emmanuel’s Convention Centre, Gulshan.
“While we’re taking iftar here, our many brothers and sisters in the country’s southern Chittagong region are going through immense sufferings as landslides damaged their homes and valuables. Around 170 people have so far been killed in the hillsides, but unfortunately the government is yet to announce any state mourning and the natural calamity-affected areas as disaster zones,” he said.
The BNP leader further said, “We demand the government announce the hillslides-hit areas as disaster ones and a state mourning for the loss of so many lives.”
Fakhrul blamed the current government for destroying the uniqueness of Bangladesh’s political culture with its bad politics. “We’ve always been saying we want democracy. We’re also on a movement to restore democracy which has been snatched by Awami League.”
Mentioning that the country is now run without democracy and people’s right, he said the real cultural practice is not possible in a country which lacks democracy. “We think democracy can be restored only through a fair and acceptable election.”
The BNP leader hoped Jasas, the cultural wing of BNP, will help uphold the country’s true culture and spread it among people.
He also asked Jasas leaders and activists to create a public opinion with cultural programmes and activities for restoration of democracy in the country.
Leaders and activists of BNP, Jasas and cultural activists joined the programme.
