BNP to hold mass contact on Mar 9 in protest

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has announced a mass contact programme for March 9 in protest against the soaring prices of essential commodities and increased power and gas tariffs.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi made the announcement at a press briefing at the Nayapaltan central office of the party in the capital on Wednesday.
As part of the protest programme, they would distribute leaflets, he said.
"Power, gas and pure drinking water facilities started moving away from the reach of the ordinary people," he added.
"This government could not draw foreign investment for the country's energy sector after coming to power," he alleged.
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said that independent MPs and other parties were also giving salute to the government.
"We established real democracy in 1971 which was later snatched away by introducing one-party BAKSAL rule in the country in 1975," he added.
He made the remarks at a discussion marking the 44th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal at the National Press Club in the capital.
Mr Khan further said that the government detained many BNP leaders, including party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.
"We could not stop looting and corruption without restoring democracy in the country. We must establish a government accountable to the people."
He said weavers (Tantis) were passing a tough time as most of them became jobless due to introduction of machineries (power looms) in the sector.

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