AL-backed syndicates out to make money hiking commodity prices: BNP

FE REPORT
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) alleged on Monday that the Awami League-backed market syndicates are increasing the prices of essential commodities indiscriminately to make a quick buck.
Member of the party chairperson's advisory council Zainul Abdin Farroque made the allegation at a human chain programme in front of the National Press Club.
Jatiyatabadi Nagorik Parishad organised the event protesting against the unremitting surge in prices of the essential commodities.
Terming the present parliament as 'talismanic', he said, "This opposition in parliament was formed upon the will of the government. They (opposition in parliament) will not be able to address the country's problems."
"There is an opposition party with only 11 members in parliament which was formed by the government," he added.
"These are Awami League's A and B teams (opposition in parliament). People didn't cast their votes for this parliament. But this government took oath on January 10, 2024 through a farcical election arranged by the Election Commission," he continued, adding that the current parliament will not stay long.
He observed that economy of the country has collapsed.
He claimed that 15 BNP leaders died in jail due to torture.
Mr Farroque said that there is no enforcement of human rights in Bangladesh and warned the government that one day they (government) must be accountable for the situation.
He criticised the government for delaying submission of investigation report of journalist couple Sagar-Runi murder case to the court.
Meanwhile, Senior Joint Secretary General of BNP Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that it is a world record happening that submission of the report on journalist couple Sagar-Runi murder case has been deferred for 105 times.
"It is really painful that the law enforcing agencies are yet to submit the investigation report on the murder of Sagar-Runi to the court even after passage of one decade since the incident," he said at a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office in the capital.
He also lamented not recovering the lost laptop of the journalist couple.
Mr Rizvi said that as per 2022 report of 'Ain O- Salish Kendra', 30 journalists were victims over the last 10 years.
He said that over 4,000 incidents of harassment and tortures of journalists happened over the last 15 years, in which, he claimed, the ruling party stalwarts were involved.
He criticised the government for controlling the media.
Those who were involved in journalists' repressions were either involved in ruling Awami League's politics or they were influential, he commented.
He said that at present a big segment of media is now being controlled either by a section of the ruling Awami League ministers or members of parliament (MPs).
"Today people of the country have lost their faith in a section of mainstream media following their biased and imbalanced news reports run to serve interest of the government," he added.
[email protected]