<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>BNP on Sunday alleged that ordinary citizens of the country are suffering in the face of high inflation caused by the ‘corruption, plunder and foul play’ of the government and pro-regime business syndicate.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Speaking at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also alleged that Awami League remains in power by relying on foreigners after committing election crimes.</div><div><br></div><div>“Prime Minister of the illegitimate government said prices have marked a rise due to the Russia-Ukraine War and Israel's attack on Palestine…I would like to say that price in other countries of the world did not rise for any reason, including the Ukraine War,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said the current ‘authoritarian regime’ is indulging in widespread corruption and looting in Bangladesh in the name of ‘strange development’ by snatching all the rights of the people.</div><div><br></div><div>“It’s now universally accepted that mega-corruption is happening in the name of mega-projects in Bangladesh. People belonging to the ruling party have looted all the banks. The prices of all products are now skyrocketing because of the syndicate of ministers and pro-ruling party businessmen,” he observed.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi also accused the ruling party of siphoning off lakhs of crores of taka abroad from the country.</div><div><br></div><div>“A kg of potatoes can’t be bought at the price of a kg of rice. Even in this vegetable season, there are no vegetables below Tk 100 per kg…the prices of onions and green chillies have skyrocketed. People are selling their children due to hunger pangs. But the ruling party leaders are least bothered abnd rather mocking the hungry people."</div><div><br></div><div>He said the country's economy is being repeatedly hit hard because of widespread corruption and money laundering by the government.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi slammed Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader for his comment that the BNP is looking at foreign friends to unseat the government with sanctions ‘like in Cambodia’.</div><div><br></div><div>"I would like to tell Mr Obaidul Quader that it is not BNP but Awami League that has been in power depending on foreigners…there is a big power behind them. The prime minister formed the government by leaning on this power,” he observed.</div><div><br></div><div>The BNP leader said Awami League fears losing power after forming a dummy government through a dummy election, reports UNB.</div><div><br></div><div>“The people have shown you (govt) the red card on January 7 to drive you out of the field completely. Voters didn’t join that one-party one-sided fake election,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>Rizvi said the questionable election has not been accepted anywhere – at home or abroad.</div><div><br></div><div>“The United Nations, international organisations and countries that are partners in our development have also demanded to cancel the farcical election and arrange a new election,” Rizvi added.</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>