The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Wednesday blamed the government for the United States sanctions on Bangladesh鈥檚 former army chief Aziz Ahmed.
Fakhrul鈥檚 remarks came at a press conference following the party鈥檚 joint meeting with its front organisations held at the BNP Naya Paltan central office in Dhaka.
The joint meeting was organised on the occasion of the death anniversary of the BNP founder, Ziaur Rahman.
The party announced a 15-day programme on the occasion.聽
Regarding the US sanction on the former army chief, Fakhrul said, 鈥榃hat a shame! The former army chief has been sanctioned by America. It鈥檚 a shame for us, for the nation! Who is responsible for this? The government is responsible.鈥�
鈥楾his happened because they [the government] tried to use the army unfairly. Although it was repeatedly said in the media in and outside the country, the government didn鈥檛 take any action,鈥� he said.
Regarding the reported murder of Awami League lawmaker Anwarul Azim Anar in Kolkata, Fakhrul said sarcastically, 鈥楽ee the success of this government in establishing the rule of law and the rights of the citizens. It鈥檚 not any ordinary citizen of Bangladesh, but one of their so-called parliamentarians disappeared and no one could give any news about it. The government of Bangladesh could not, nor could its friend India.鈥�
鈥榃hat do we think about it? Its [the government鈥檚] only aim is to do corruption and make mountains of money and smuggle it abroad,鈥� he said.
Earlier, Fakhrul announced a 15-day programme on the occasion of the 43rd death anniversary of party founder and former president Ziaur Rahman.
The programmes to be held from May 28 to June 11 on the occasion are鈥攑lacing wreaths at Ziaur Rahman鈥檚 grave, hoisting party flags and black flags across the country, holding free medical camps, distributing food to the poor, and holding photo exhibitions, discussion meetings, prayer meetings, seminars, essay competitions, poetry recitation events and a book fair.