Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that the government's initiative to stop extortion and control prices of daily necessities is low. The interim government was formed in the midst of a revolution. This government will have to fulfill the expectations of the people. If there is a shortfall in fulfilling those expectations, the political parties will speak according to the people's thoughts.
He said this while speaking at a winter clothing distribution program of these nationalist parties in Mohammadpur area of the capital, on Sunday (December 15) afternoon.
Regarding the issue of stopping extortion to control prices of daily necessities, he said, "Catch the extortionists at every corner of the road. Many times, the police stop food trucks and collect extortion. If they stop them, the prices will come down. We are not saying that any government official is doing this. But if there were strong administrative instructions, there would be no extortion on the streets. If this situation cannot give people relief compared to the previous period, then people will be disappointed." The prices of food and daily necessities have not decreased.
When there was no democracy, we had to protest. We had to stand against Sheikh Hasina, ignoring the red eyes of Sheikh Hasina, especially in front of her administration, with courage in our chest. Many of them have been arrested, many have died. In the normal situation of the country, the peasant party will work for agricultural development. If the boys who have passed out of the university work for the farmers, the development of agriculture will be rapid. The government should pay attention to this so that people do not go hungry. This is their job.
Addressing the interim government, Rizvi said, people will move freely. No one will be under threat. But if you nurture Sheikh Hasina's friends in the administration you are the SP in Narayanganj who is involved in the murder of Jubo Dal's Shaon. If you make that SP the DC headquarters then how will you stop extortion, murder, and violence from the society. You see who is doing wrong. Arrest him, bring him under the law. You cannot establish the rule of law by giving a good posting to the injured police officer.
In response to an adviser's recent statement on political reforms, Rizvi said, this is a kind of egotistical expression. Who created 1971, who won the war, and who won another victory for democracy by removing Ershad, is this contribution of civil society, then civil society supported it. I will tell the adviser that I see the revival of Moinuddin- Fakhruddin in your speech. This cannot be. Rather, the so-called reforms of Moinuddin and Fakhrudin have resulted in an authoritarian, fascist like Hasina, who destroyed all the institutions of democracy and ruled as an empress. If you speak against her, you will either go to jail, or there would be bodies lying on the streets, rivers and canals. This is the result of that organization.
He also said, if you carry out real reforms. Then it should not be so late to establish elections, the essential parts of democracy, the rule of law, etc. You could have strengthened the judiciary during your tenure. There has been no progress at all. You have been in power for a long time and the political parties have shown arrogance that no organization has done in 50 years, but people will turn their backs on you. They will think that you are working with malicious intentions. Sheikh Hasina has misdirected democracy for the last 15 years. People will think that you may not want to return that right to vote. Such fears will be created among the people. What you will do is to convey to the people the optimism that they can vote very soon, that elections can be held. That effort is reform. Do that work very quickly.
The interim government has been formed in the midst of a revolution. This government has to meet the expectations of the people. If there is a shortfall in meeting those expectations, the political parties will speak according to the people's thoughts. The government is unable to reduce the prices of daily essential food items in any way. We have said, you should sell products at wholesale prices in the market. Catch the syndicate hawkers. Bring those who are already doing this work in collaboration with the syndicate and the evil circle under the law on a large scale. Then you will automatically see that the prices will come down. Make arrangements to bring the products produced by farmers in the field to the market quickly. In the meantime, so that the middlemen cannot interfere, so that their black hands cannot be extended. Identify them. Bring them under the law. Peace and order and extortion must be controlled in the area. A political party cannot stop extortion. They can control their own party. The government must take responsibility to stop extortion.