Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has alleged that the incumbent Awami League government is ‘exploiting’ the country’s people.

The Awami League has usurped power and is exploiting the country’s people in the same way the Pakistanis exploited and ruled. They are sucking blood of the country’s people and repressing them,” he said.

Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, the freedom fighters’ wing of BNP, arranged the programme, marking the Independence Day.  Freedom fighters from across the country joined the programme.

A chair was kept vacant on the stage for the BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia who is now staying at her Gulshan residence after getting conditional release from jail.

Mirza Fakhrul said, “Had you (freedom fighters) fought for this Bangladesh? Today’s Bangladesh (under current Awami League regime) is an evil spirit of the Pakistani occupation forces of 1971 and the despotic rulers of Pakistan.”

He lamented that the freedom fighters joined the war of liberation with a dream of building a happy, prosperous, democratic and independent Bangladesh. “Unfortunately the Awami League is plundering money and committing corruption.”

The BNP secretary general said it is now the responsibility of the young generation of the country to protect the country’s independence and restore democracy and people’s rights.

Referring to the death of a female employee of Naogaon union parishad land office in Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) custody, Fakhrul said people have now no security in the country.

Meanwhile, the BNP hosted an iftar party in honour of the professionals at Ladies Club in Eskaton of the capital on Monday.

Different professionals, including academicians, lawyers, journalists, engineers and doctors attended the iftar.