The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Sunday blasted the Awami League over the ruling party general secretary Obaidul Quader’s remarks that journalists have no need to enter the central bank.
‘Then who will enter the central bank? Is it the mafia, musclemen and loan defaulters who will enter the central bank?’ BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi asked, addressing a press conference at its Naya Paltan central office.
‘An Indian newspaper reported that billions of dollars have been hacked form the central bank. The bank gave a statement because they work for the government,’ he said, adding that the bank must invariably listen to what the government says, but by denying entry to journalists the main incidents (looting of money) cannot be concealed.
Alleging that 50 billion dollars have disappeared from the reserve, Rizvi said, now the reserve has hit bottom.
‘The government says it has $13 billion. But those who are aware about the matter they say that there are only 7 to 8 billion dollars left,’ he said, adding that out of this, four billion dollars will go to repay the debt of the power sector.
He further said that people are passing days in a tragic situation.
‘There is no security of life and property here. The government is taking one strategy after another to divert the public sentiment,’ he said.
‘We are living in a vacuum. There is no ground under our feet. The Awami League is engaged in turning the entire country into a graveyard,’ Rizvi said.
The BNP leader also said that journalists are not allowed to enter the Bangladesh Bank so that they do not find out about those who looted the deposits and became owners of assets and settled outside the country.
On Saturday, AL general secretary Obaidul Quader at a press conference asked which country in the world gives journalists unrestricted entry to its central bank.
‘In which country in the world can you enter the central bank freely? There is all information on the website... Why do you enter?’ said the ruling party leader.
