BNP standing committee member Moudud Ahmed has said that the budget proposals are likely to cause a hike in the rate of inflation and prices of daily essentials, coupled with dwindling investments. The interests of the common man have been ignored and a large amount of money has been wasted , he added. Moudud was addressing a discussion, “Toleration of others’ views is a pre-condition for a functional Parliament” — organised by the Bangladesh Islamic Party (BIP) at the National Press Club on Friday. “The budget is like a large and colourful balloon. It doesn’t reflect the hopes and aspirations of our countrymen,” he added. He said the budget proposals would encourage corruption as direct and indirect taxes have been imposed without any justification. He also said that the common people would be the most affected. About India’s plan to construct a container terminal at Narayanganj, he said that on May 10 the Indian ministry of external affairs had posted an advertisement on its website, inviting bids for the techno-commercial feasibility study to implement the project.
“We’re surprised that our foreign ministry was completely unaware of the tender notification before it appeared on the Indian ministry’s website. How could the Indian side do this without having a prior consultation with Bangladesh? The nation wants to know the truth. Such incidents are tantamount to an attack on the country’s independence and sovereign existence. We’ve not earned independence to tolerate such foreign interference,” he added.
He said the Awami League had introduced the one-party BKSAL rule after the country became independent in 1971. This is because it does not pay heed to dissenting voices.
About the caretaker government (CG) provision, he said the issue of poll-time administration was settled in 1995. He alleged that the Awami League had come to power in 1996 by participating in the general election
under the CG administration. “But it has annulled the provision from
the Constitution to cling to power. It now wants to
hold the next polls under its own government,” he added.
He said that contrary to democratic norms, the government has imposed a ban on holding political meetings, rallies and demonstrations,
Liberal Democratic Party secretary general Redwan Ahmed, Muslim League chairman Nurul Haque Mazumdar and others spoke at the discussion, with Abdul Mobin, chairman of the BIP, in the chair.
-With The Independent input
