Voicing her firm resolve to face the current regime on the streets braving all sorts of repressive acts, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia on Saturday warned that they will enforce tougher programmes just a day after its announcement to hike the tariffs of power, gas and fuel further. “I want to say the prices of power, gas and fuel oils can’t be raised again… the tariffs of those should be cut down instead. If the prices are hiked we won’t sit idle,” she told a mammoth rally at Kanchpur Balurmath. Khaleda further said, “I would like to issue the last warning that we’ll announce tougher programmes if the prices of power, gas and fuel are hiked… the programmes will be enforced right the following day of the government’s announcement. We’ll return home this time after ousting you.” As she asked her audience whether they will be there in the field to implement he alliance programmes, they replied loudly in chorus saying, “Yes, yes. Hailing her audience for their spontaneous response, an overwhelmed Khaleda then said, “Bravo, bravo”. The former Prime Minister reiterated that they will take to the streets for assuaging public sufferings, ensuring their welfare and realising their rights, asserting that her party does politics for people. She wondered that the government is planning to increase the fuel prices in the country at a time when the prices of those have marked a fall in the global market. Khaleda was also harsh about the government for what she said its failure to ensure the fair prices for the produces of the country’s farmers. She alleged that the government has imported 5 lakh tonnes of rice though has been a bountiful production of crops in the country, frustrating the farmers as they are not getting the fair price of their paddy. The BNP chief claimed that the ruling party in the last six years did not do anything good for the country. “Whenever Awami League comes to power it takes the country backward and puts it on the verge of destruction.” The local unit of the 20-party arranged the rally protesting the ‘growing’ incidents of killing, enforced disappearance, abduction and the government’s repressive acts. – UNB, Narayanganj.
