People Are Fed Up with Extortion, Government Has No Plan to Give Relief: Jamaat Amir Shafiqur Rahman at Press Club
Jamaat-e-Islami Amir and Leader of the Opposition Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said the government has no plan to give the country's people any relief. The public is fed up with the torment of extortion. In his words, people are now forced to buy for three taka what should cost one taka.
He made the remarks on Sunday (25 October) at noon while delivering the chair's speech at a discussion meeting organised by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at the Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam Auditorium of the National Press Club, marking the anniversary of the signing of the July National Charter. Throughout the speech, the opposition leader sharply criticised the government's activities.
Citing price examples, the Jamaat Amir said he had seen in the media two days ago that four bottle gourds were reportedly sold for just one taka in Panchagarh. Unable to get a fair price, farmers were throwing them into canals and wetlands out of frustration. Yet in the capital, a single bottle gourd costs 40, 50 or 60 taka. He alleged that this extra burden falls on ordinary buyers because of extortionists.
He said the government has failed to stop extortion and occupation. Raising the Radda Medical Centre issue, he alleged that the institution had provided open services to the public for years, for decades, yet it was attacked at night, vandalised and looted. After the offence, the MP concerned was merely made to resign, he questioned — with the law and law-enforcement agencies in place, why was the offender not brought under the law? Would everything end with a resignation, he also asked. In his words, the people should not be taken for fools; the people understand everything.
On the spread of extortion, he further alleged that the situation has reached a point where even the ruling side's own people are not spared. In many places, BNP members say that after doing politics for decades, extortion money is now being demanded from themselves — a remark he also cited in his speech. At the same time, he levelled the grave allegation that people do not hesitate to kill even their own by throwing stones.
Dr Shafiqur Rahman claimed the country cannot run this way. He also alleged that attempts are being made to shift blame onto the opposition and to build a narrative in order to cover up mountain-like failures. His questions were: it is being said the seven-month-old government made some mistakes — but why was the verdict of 70 percent of the people disregarded so quickly, why was every sphere of society occupied so quickly, and why were party cadres made administrators and imposed on the people? Why has the law-and-order situation deteriorated so severely, he also asked.
Criticising a minister by name, he said Salauddin Sahib is expert on every ministry — the law ministry and, in the end, even the religious affairs ministry — except that he gets no opportunity to look after his own ministry. He added that a senior ruling-party MP had himself said in parliament how drugs could possibly be stopped when the biggest drug consignments come through the home minister's home area.
Fifty trucks were robbed in broad daylight — the matter is clear, he commented. His call was for the government to abandon deceiving the people in the name of constitutional amendment and instead pay attention to its own responsibilities; otherwise, it should step aside.
On the purpose of the movement, the Jamaat Amir said their message is clear — they have not taken to the streets for any party demand or any demand of the 11-party alliance; they have taken to the streets for the rights of the people. Every demand is related to the people's rights. He also alleged that pressure is being applied on them in various ways not to carry out programmes to realise those demands.
Raising the referendum, he said 70 percent of the people voted 'yes' in the referendum. The people have made it known that they no longer want the rotten, worn-out politics of the past; they want change and reform. He said the first long march has already taken place; many threats had been issued over India and it had been said there was no public response to the long march — but whether there is a response or not, the people themselves are the witness.
Towards the end, he said they are continuing their movement in an orderly manner and do not believe in chaos; no one should try to impose chaos on them. Saying they are fighting for the people's rights, he said their leaders never bowed to any evil force, and neither will they. He also claimed the people are with them.
From this discussion meeting marking the anniversary of the July National Charter signing, extortion, occupation, prices and law and order all emerged together as the opposition camp's main charges against the government. It remains to be seen what response comes from the government side and where the street programmes go from here.
