BNP: Dhaka is now a poisonous gas chamber

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Monday bemoaned that the major cities in Bangladesh, including Dhaka, have become poisonous gas chambers due to widespread pollution.

"The prime minister has gone to Glasgow. Wow! Dhaka has the highest rate of air pollution in South Asia. Dhaka, Chittagong and other cities in Bangladesh are now toxic-gas chambers. In fact, Bangladesh is a poisonous gas chamber,” he said.

Speaking at a human-chain program, the BNP leader also said the prime minister went to the Climate Change Conference (COP26), after destroying the trees, fish, and water of Bangladesh. “How self-contradictory it can be!”

The Dhaka district unit of BNP arranged the program in front of the Jatiya Press Club protesting the soaring prices of daily essentials.

Rizvi said all the opposition parties, environmentalists, and civil society organizations opposed the coal-fired power station in the Rampal upazila of Bagerhat near the Sundarbans, but the government still has given permission to set it up.

He said the prime minister who is constructing the Rampal power plant to destroy the Sundarbans has gone to the world climate conference in Glasgow. “It’s like that an old woman wants to dance, but she doesn't know there’s no rhythm in her performance.”On Sunday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to Scotland as she embarked on a two-week visit to the United Kingdom and France to attend the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties and other events.

‘Looters’ hiking prices

Speaking at the same program, BNP standing committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy alleged that the prices of daily essentials are pushed up by the ruling party-backed plunderers despite having an adequate supply of goods.

"The prices of goods usually go up when there’s a scarcity or low production and low supply to the market. There’s now no shortage of goods and everything is available in the market, but their prices are high. When the supply of goods is sufficient, the prices of essentials are being hiked only in the interest of the Awami-looters syndicate,“ he said.

The BNP leader said common people are going through serious suffering due to the growing price hike of the daily essentials. 

He alleged that people of no religion and community are now safe in the country as there is no democracy. “But the corrupt, bribe-takers and those who go to TVs and tell lies in favour of government are safe.”