BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday said the hikes in the price of commodities have left the country’s people in the lurch.

"They (govt) have not only destroyed the politics of Bangladesh but also destroyed the economy by ruling the country like a monster in the last 15 years… What is the condition of commodity prices? There's no peace in any house,” he said.

Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader also said the prices of gas, electricity, vegetables, rice, and other essential goods have soared in a way that it is impossible now to manage necessary food to eat.

“It’s unbelievable. People now can’t afford milk and eggs for their kids. The price of per kg of beef is Tk 800 while a bottle gourd is Tk 120. This is the situation,” he observed.

Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal organized the program at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 43rd death anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.

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Referring to a study of the Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Fakhrul said, "The price of goods in Bangladesh is higher than many other countries. The price of goods has increased so much for people with low income that it seems difficult for them to survive. They can’t buy beef, let alone the hilsa fish…even, they can’t buy good quality vegetables because of the high price.”

Besides, he said the prices of soybean oil or palm oil are much higher in Bangladesh than in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam.

“We, the common people, are facing this situation and going through a difficult time...the Awami League government has created this situation by staying in power by force for the last 15 years illegally using the state machinery, including police, BGB, and administration,” the BNP leader alleged.

He called upon the leaders and activists of the BNP’s women's wing to be vocal and to take to the streets to get rid of the current situation of the country and to establish a pro-people democratic government.

BNP protests fuel price hike

“Now is the time for us to organize ourselves. We’re making our efforts and being subjected to torture and imprisonment. Our mothers and sisters are going to jail repeatedly, but we have not achieved the final victory. To achieve this final victory, we have to strengthen our organization. Remove the small mistakes and misunderstandings that we have among ourselves. We have to take to the streets in unison,” Fakhrul said.

He accused the ruling party of destroying the country’s electoral system by holding three ‘farcical’ national elections by annulling the caretaker government system.

The BNP leader said their party, together with 64 other ones, has been on a movement to force the government to arrange a credible election under a non-party neutral government and an impartial election commission.

Fakhrul lamented that the reputation of the Army and police force has been marred by the US sanctions imposed on former army chief Aziz Ahmed and the subsequent departure of former IGP Benazir Ahmed from the country after the allegations of corruption brought against him.