BNP has turned state institutions into party rehabilitation centres: Nahid Islam

PNN News Desk, Dhaka

National Citizen Party (NCP) Convener and Chief Whip of the Opposition Md Nahid Islam has accused the BNP of turning state institutions into party establishments. He alleged that the BNP government was rehabilitating individuals who failed to secure party nominations or lost elections by appointing them to various positions in state institutions.

Nahid Islam made the remarks while criticising the BNP government’s activities over its first six months at a press conference held at the NCP’s temporary central office in Banglamotor, Dhaka, on Monday (August 24).

He alleged that over the past six months, vice-chancellors had been appointed to 19 to 20 universities based on party considerations. He also claimed that party-affiliated individuals had been appointed as administrators in 11 city corporations and 63 district councils.

The NCP convener also criticised the government over the country’s fuel situation. He said a major fuel oil crisis emerged in the country soon after the government took office. At that time, fuel prices were increased to a record level. He said the impact had been felt in various sectors, including public transport, agricultural irrigation and fertiliser supplies.

Nahid Islam claimed that the country currently faces a gas shortage of around 43 percent compared with demand. As a result, he said, residents in various parts of the capital were facing difficulties in cooking at home, while industrial production was also being disrupted. He further alleged that industrial orders were shifting to other countries because of the gas crisis.

He also claimed that the government had failed to fulfil its promises regarding the power situation. Nahid Islam said that although the government had pledged that electricity prices would not be increased during the first two years after taking office, prices were raised within just two months. He also pointed to load-shedding, excessive or “ghost” bills and the burden of capacity charges.

Nahid Islam also alleged that the recommendations of the national committee formed during the interim government were not being implemented. According to him, whenever a crisis emerges, the government blames either the previous government or the interim government. Yet, he said, the interim government had taken responsibility under circumstances that were even more difficult than the current situation.

The NCP convener also expressed concern over the conditions in the agriculture and health sectors. He said farmers were not receiving the necessary fertilisers and, in many cases, were being forced to purchase them at higher prices. He also said credit growth was increasing. He criticised the government for blaming the interim government for the measles situation in the health sector, saying the crisis had not yet been fully resolved. He also alleged that no specialised hospital had been established so far.

Nahid Islam also criticised the BNP government over the education sector. Referring to allegations of occupation and attacks on students and activists with opposing political views at various educational institutions, he said no effective action was being taken to ensure justice for these incidents.

Referring to statistics on political violence, Nahid Islam said there had been 830 incidents of political violence in the country over the past six months. He blamed the BNP for 670 of those incidents. The NCP convener also claimed that NCP leaders and activists had come under attack in different parts of the country.

Nahid Islam further said that the NCP had been saying from the beginning that the government had betrayed the people by rejecting the public mandate expressed through the referendum. He called for accountability to be ensured in state governance and for the interests of the people to be given priority.