AL leaders behind price hike: Fakhrul

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday alleged that those who belong to Awami League are hiking the prices of essentials to make a quick buck, reports UNB.

"The prices of rice, oil and onion are going up as you (govt) are indulging in plundering, stealing and robbery. Those who're rising prices all members of Awami League and people of Awami League," he said.

The BNP leader made the remarks while speaking at a rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club arranged by Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal protesting the soaring prices of essential commodities.

He said the lower middle-class, middle- and lower-income people have become helpless as the prices of all essential commodities have gone beyond their buying capacity.

"This government doesn't care about anything. Their ministers, dressed in beautiful clothes, sit in beautiful places with flowers are making statements that the prices are growing all over the world, and so is our purchasing power," Fakhrul said.

He said people are struggling to cope with the unusual prices of all necessary items. "The purchasing capacity of those who buy and do shopping in Singapore, Bangkok, Toronto and New York have increased, but not that of our helpless people, farmers, the peasant, workers and hardworking masses."

The BNP leader also slammed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her comment that the prices are shooting up due to the war between Russia and Ukraine. "Isn't it another lie as the prices have been increasing before the war?

Fakhrul said the Awami League government does not care about its criticism since its skin is thicker than that of a "rhinoceros". "This government is anti-independence, anti-people, anti-farmers, anti-workers and anti-people one. They have no obligation to the people."

He criticised Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader for his remark that BNP will sink in deep water if it does not go to the polls and continues to talk about the caretaker government.

"I would like to ask Obaidul Quader why are you so afraid of a neutral and caretaker government? Hold the election under a neutral government during the polls period and then you'll see whether Awami League will sink or BNP... Awami League is a party of liars, deceivers and traitors," the BNP leader observed.

He said the government is resorting to information terrorism to mislead the country's people as its all statistics including on GDP, inflation and per capita income, are fake.

Fakhrul called upon the government to step down by handing over power to a neutral government for holding a credible election. "Quit power immediately -- enough is enough!"