BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said on Thursday his party is deeply disappointed not because of the construction of the Padma Bridge, but for the massive plundering of money from the project, reports UNB.
"The Padma Bridge which was supposed to cost Tk 100 billion is now being built spending Tk 300-400 billion. So, we're disappointed not for the construction of the bridge, but for the plundering of millions of taka from the project," he said.
Speaking at a book launching programme, the BNP leader also alleged the ruling party leaders are looting people's hard-earned money and siphoning off it abroad. "This is the cause of our heartburn"
Zia Parishad organised the programme at the BNP chairperson's Gulshan office in the city, marking the launching of a new book on late president Ziaur Rahman.
Earlier on Wednesday, Road Transport Minister and Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader at a programme said the hearts of the BNP leaders are getting burnt as the much-awaited Padma Bridge is set to open on June 25 next.
Fakhrul said the government has destroyed all the achievements of the nation and imposed a burden of loans on the country's people.
"They (govt) are now always bragging about Padma Bridge. This bridge is not being constructed with anybody's paternal property. It is being built with the money taken from the pockets of the country's people," he observed.
The BNP secretary general alleged the ruling party leaders are looting money from all mega projects in many ways.
About the under-construction metro rail project in the capital, he said many stations are being made unnecessarily within a very short distance only to plunder public money. "I've never seen so many stations at such close distance for any metro rail in the world. Their (govt's) goal is to indulge in corruption, plundering and siphoning off Bangladesh's assets."
In another programme, Fakhrul claimed that over a hundred leaders of activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) were injured in 'violent' attacks by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) on Dhaka University campus and the high court premises.
"Chhatra League went on a rampage and attacked the students of Dhaka University, leaving over 100 leaders and activists of JCD injured," he said.
Talking to reporters after visiting injured JCD leaders and workers at Samorita Hospital in the capital, the BNP leader said the BCL 'cadres' also hit the JCD men entering the High Court. "They beat the JCD activists going to different rooms of the High Court. Even, they did not spare the female students."
Fakhrul said he found around 50 injured leaders and activists of JCD at Samorita Hospital. "The Chhatra League terrorists have hit the leaders and activists on their heads. Two of them have been shifted to ICU and most of them are groaning in pain. The doctors are giving them treatment with sincerity."
