PM enjoying concert when people struggling to buy food: BNP

BNP on Wednesday slammed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for what it said joining a gala concert that was arranged spending crores of taka when common people are struggling to cope with skyrocketing prices of daily essentials.

"Such a situation has been created that people are lining up behind trucks carrying the goods of TCB as they can't afford to buy rice, pulses, oil and salt due to exorbitant prices. At the same time, our Prime Minister was listening to music in a concert and recoding a video herself bringing a famous singer from India," said BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Besides, the BNP leader said bureaucrats along with their family members are visiting Canada on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines' s special flight on Dhaka-Toronto route spending a huge amount of public money. "This is now the condition of the country."

He made the remarks at a civic reception at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the release of Ruhul Amin Gazi, a former president of a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ), from jail, reports UNB.

Ruhul Amin Gazi was arrested on October 21, 2020 from his workplace Dainik Sangram in two cases--one filed under the Digital Security Act. He was released on bail from Kashimpur jail on March 22 last.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board hosted a concert, titled "Cricket Celebrates Mujib 100" at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, celebrating the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Oscar-winning Indian musical sensation AR Rahman performed in the concert participated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Fakhrul said the government has been extensively campaigning about providing one crore people with special cards so that they can buy daily essential commodities at a fair price.

"The person who was given a card in my area Thakurgaon is the president of the Mohila League who owns a two-story building. The poor and destitute in her area didn’t get the card.”

About the Mass Media Employees (Services Conditions) Bill 2022 which was tabled in parliament on Monday, Fakhrul questioned whether this law will be helpful in ensuring the benefits of journalists since the bill will be passed by those who became MP without people’s votes.

He alleged that the government has been enacting various repressive acts and policies, including the Digital Security Act, to regulate mass media and social media with the goal to turn Bangladesh into a fully fascist state.

“There is no freedom of speech now in the country. Even anyone can be beheaded for raising voice under the current situation of the country,” he observed.

The BNP leader called upon the journalists to get united to ensure their rights, press freedom and the freedom of expression in the country.