Shawdesh Desk;

The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday feared that Bangladesh was going to be used as a field in the fight of the big powers for establishing their supremacy only because of the government’s imprudent diplomacy.

Speaking at a rally, he also voiced concern over Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s comment that the United States and its allies were trying to promote their interests in South Asia region by using the Indo-Pacific strategy with their goal to counter China and Isolate Russia.

‘What the Russian foreign minister said after arriving here has clearly manifested that Bangladesh is going to be used as a field in the sphere of influence of the big powers in their struggle for hegemony. It’s very alarming,’ the BNP leader said.

He alleged that the Awami League government was completely responsible for creating such a situation and inviting danger for the nation. ‘They (govt) are making irresponsible statements and conducting their diplomacy imprudently to push Bangladesh to such a dire situation.’

Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal brought out the colourful procession in front of BNP’s Naya Paltan central office marking its 45th funding anniversary.

BNP founder Ziaur Rahman formed Mahila Dal, the female wing of the party, on September 9, 1978.

Lavrov arrived in Dhaka on Thursday evening on a two-day visit and held a bilateral meeting with foreign minister AK Abdul Momen.

At a press briefing later, Lavrov said that Moscow would prevent any attempt to establish dictates and interference by the US and its allies in this region.

He also called on prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday before leaving for New Delhi to attend the G20 summit. It was the first visit by a Russian foreign minister since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971.

Fakhrul urged the leaders and workers of the Mahila Dal to play an important role in making the current movement for the restoration of democracy a success with their participation in street programmes.

‘On this foundation anniversary, you have to take an oath that we would establish people’s government ousting the existing one at any cost and hold the (next) election under a neutral non-partisan government,’ he told the Mahila Dal leaders and activists.

The BNP leader said that they wanted to realise their one-point demand peacefully without any violence and chaos.

He said the BNP’s aim was to create a democratic environment suitable for holding free, fair, and credible elections.

The BNP leader said that the fall of the current regime was inevitable as people were taking to the streets to establish a democratic and elected government.