The Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party) has labeled the government's high-powered trip to Beijing a "massive failure," alleging that national interests were compromised to appease regional superpowers in exchange for political legitimacy.
 
During a public hearing today at Bijoy 71 Square near their central office in Segun Bagicha, AB Party leaders expressed their dissatisfaction. They accused the government of trying to divert attention from various scandals involving public servants by "unnecessarily instigating" protests against the quota system in government employment.
 
Speakers at the hearing included a diverse group of individuals such as security guards, drivers, female entrepreneurs, small traders, a blind person, a cook, female tailors, street singers, social workers, and other professionals. They shared their struggles with inflation and declining earnings under the current government.
 
Mojibur Rahman Monju, Member Secretary of AB Party; Asaduzzaman Fuaad, a barrister-at-law and Joint Member Secretary; and Didarul Alam, a retired army lieutenant colonel, were among those who spoke at the event.
 
The AB Party leaders criticized the government for boasting about securing a US $5-7 billion credit line and an additional $15 billion in investment for various development projects during the Beijing visit. They claimed, however, that the actual assistance promised amounted to only a few million dollars. "Beijing cannot be repeatedly misled by the government's excessive reliance on Delhi, which may harm their interests in Bangladesh," they argued
 
They also highlighted the plight of workers in the ready-made garment (RMG) sector who are protesting for their wages while the government spent "extravagantly" on the trip to Beijing.