Politics must be freed from rogue elements: Hasnat

LAKSHMIPUR, July 11 (UNB): Hasnat Abdullah, MP for Comilla-4 and chief organiser of the southern region of the National Citizen Party (NCP), has said the country's politics must be freed from the grip of rogue elements.
He made the remarks while addressing a road march and rally in Raipur upazila of Lakshmipur as the chief guest at around 10:30pm on Friday.
Hasnat alleged that politicians often fail to take action against drug traffickers and they remain silent when the prices of essential commodities rise.
"Before elections, politicians collect extortion money from business syndicates to finance their campaigns. As a result, when those same syndicates raise the prices of essential goods against the public interest after the election, politicians turn a blind eye and remain occupied with praising the Prime Minister in parliament," he said.
The NCP leader also criticised what he described as restrictions on lawmakers' freedom of expression in parliament.
"When we try to speak in parliament, the Speaker tells us that this is not Shahbagh but parliament. We will not confine our voices to the House alone. If we are prevented from speaking there, we will speak outside, among the people. No one can silence us," he said.