<div style="text-align: justify; "><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Tuesday said, “I don't feel like talking about this government anymore. How much can I say? They've become too thick-skinned that they’re least bothered about criticism...their only goal is to plunder public money."&nbsp;</span><br></b></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He urged the government to step down without any manoeuvring as its existence has already been tainted by widespread corruption.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Speaking at a discussion, he also warned that their party will intensify the movement to ensure the ouster of the government despite all obstacles.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddha Dal, the freedom fighters' wing of BNP, organised the programme at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU), commemorating the 43rd death anniversary of BNP founder and late president Ziaur Rahman.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Referring to the exposure of various graft incidents involving ruling party leaders and former officials, he said the government has earned a serious bad reputation for unbridled corruption and plundering.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“They have become completely tainted with corruption. No matter how much they talk, whatever they say, in reality, they have no existence. The evidence of that is visible everywhere. I say their time is over. So, stop manoeuvring so that you can receive a proper burial and funeral, and people can remember you,” Fakhrul said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He also questioned who promoted former Army Chief Aziz Ahmed and ex-IGP Benazir Ahmed to engage in irregularities.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Who nurtured Aziz? Where was Aziz’s position and where was he elevated? Now the history of Benzir Ahmed’s countless misdeeds and plundering are also being exposed,” he said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The BNP leader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should step down, taking responsibility for the graft incidents involving her party colleagues and former government officials.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“There aren't just one or two incidents like this; there are countless. There’s nothing but corruption around them…all their so-called elected representatives in the local government elections, or the MPs elected in the midnight elections are extremely involved in corruption. They are all drowning under the weight of ill-gotten money.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">He also said ruling party leaders are building second homes abroad with their illegal money. “A former State Minister for Land had 365 houses in London.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Under the circumstances, the BNP leader said opposition parties must move forward to protect the country with new strategies, considering the geo-political situation and the new world order.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said all patriotic individuals, all political forces, especially the young generation who love the country, must unite now and step forward to protect the country from the clutches of the dreadful monster and safeguard the nation from peril. “We’ll be eliminated if we get defeated in the struggle for saving the country.”</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said it is now dangerous for opposition leaders and workers to raise their voices and carry out movements in Bangladesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“Everything is dangerous here. Amidst this peril, we must gather the courage to stand firm. We must realise our justified demand for holding an impartial election. For that, we must intensify our movement,” he added</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd/fas</div>