Dhaka, Sept 21 (UNB) – BNP senior leader Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain on Saturday slammed Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader for accusing their party of introducing the casino culture in the country, saying the ruling party is resorting to lies to hide its misdeeds.
“If BNP introduced casino and gambling during its rule, why didn’t the government prevent the illegal business over the last 12 years? Had the casino business begum during the BNP’s rule, the 1/11 government would have tracked down it,” he said.
Speaking at a human chain programme, the BNP leader further said, “They (AL leaders) are now trying to shift the blame of their fault on others by resorting to lies.”
Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal arranged the programme in front of the Jatiya Press Club, demanding the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail.
Earlier on Friday, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader at a press briefing claimed that BNP introduced the casino culture in Bangladesh.
Protesting the comment, Mosharraf, a BNP standing committee member, said the casino business has been running in the capital with the help of the administration and the government’s backing. “Otherwise, the casino business could not continue within few yards of Motijheel Police Station.”
Referring to the recent arrests of two Jubo League leaders with huge stash of money as part of a crackdown on illegal casinos and businesses, the BNP leader said ‘black cats’ are now coming out of bags.
“If huge money, including 1.80 crore cash and sacks of dollars, can be found from the house of a small leader of Jubo league, it can be understood how much money the bigger leaders have amassed,” he observed.
Mosharraf also said huge public money can be recovered by conducting raids on the houses of senior ruling party leaders.
He alleged that the government has kept their chairperson Khaleda Zia in jail unfairly on ‘false’ corruption charges.
The BNP leader urged the country’s people to get united to free Khaleda from jail and ‘restore’ democracy.
