Strikes and blockades initiated by the BNP have resulted in a daily loss of Tk 16.0 billion, equivalent to 0.2 per cent of the country's GDP, as informed by Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen to foreign diplomats on Monday citing statistics from the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).
He was briefing them about the current situation of the country at the State Guesthouse Jamuna.
Law Minister Anisul Huq, Prime Minister's private investment affairs adviser Salman F Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam, and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were also present.
"As you may already be aware, the BNP has called for a three-day nationwide blockade starting from tomorrow. We can only expect more assaults on the lives and properties of innocent civilians," he said. However, aside from the law-and-order aspect, there is an economic aspect to the strikes and blockades as well.
"We are shocked at what unfolded on October 28 and yesterday. We are not, however, surprised, as we have experienced BNP-Jamaat's dreadful violence in the past," the minister said.
The motive behind terrorizing the nation and misleading our people is to impede democratic processes and promote unconstitutional forces.
BNP's tactics of fear and forgery did not work before, and they will not work now.
"We reaffirm our government's strong and unwavering commitment to adhere to the democratic process mandated by the Constitution and hold free, fair, and credible elections on schedule."
"We will continue to exercise utmost patience and restraint. At the same time, our law enforcement agencies should also do everything within their legal parameters to provide safety and security to our citizens, maintain public order, thwart attempts to damage private and public properties, destabilize the country, or undermine democratic and constitutional processes," the FM stated.
"We dispatched a summary on the evening of October 28, highlighting the widespread violence carried out by BNP activists. You have seen the footage on TV and online, showing the on-duty police officer being fatally assaulted, or the tragic loss of a public transport worker's life due to the torching of a public bus," the minister said.
This time, their focus is more on the Police and Judiciary.
"Apart from brutally beating one policeman to death, they attacked the residences of the Honorable Chief Justice and other judges and torched six police outposts," he added, mentioning that 65 police officers were admitted to the Police Hospital, and another to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
"BNP did not spare on-duty journalists and camera personnel. According to the Bangladesh Federal Journalist Union (BFUJ), BNP activists attacked and critically injured at least 25 media professionals," the minister concluded.
Later, when speaking to reporters, the FM urged BNP to participate in the elections, which, he stated, would be conducted in accordance with constitutional provisions.
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