Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday said not only Benazir but other persons having good links with the government were also looting the country.
Expressing fear that the country's existence would be jeopardised if this present government of looters is not halted, he said, "Reports are coming about looting by the persons (former police chief and army chief), who were supposed to protect the people."
"Not only they, but the government's influential people are committing looting across the country, and they're laundering the looted money abroad."
He said these at a discussion, marking 43rd death anniversary of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, organised by Ziaur Rahman Foundation at the National Press Club in the capital.
Mirza Fakhrul raised question on the whereabouts of former inspector general of police (IGP) Benazir Ahmed.
"If the home minister doesn't know the whereabouts of Benazir, can it be considered a state?"
He alleged that many people were killed following Benazir's directives while he was in service.
The BNP secretary general opined that the future generation of Bangladesh would fall in debt trap, as the country is now overwhelmingly burdened with foreign loans.
He said many mega projects, including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, are being implemented with foreign loans, and major works of these mega projects are yet to be completed.
Mirza Fakhrul criticised the government for destroying the Election Commission and the country's electoral system.
"People don't like to cast their votes now, because they don't trust the Election Commission. They know that their votes will not be counted."
"Today our responsibility is to protect the country's independence, sovereignty and democracy. If we cannot overthrow this government, there will be no existence of our country. It is just a matter of time for BNP to turn around," he noted.
About politics of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami he said, "We should not do politics on the basis of slogans only. I don't support Jamaat politics. But strategy and tactics of the party's politics are very scientific like that of Communist Party."
He said Chhatra Shibir (the student wing of Jamaat) leaders and activists used to read books. They also published books and newspaper articles, as none would succeed without knowledge.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com