Shawdesh Desk:

The BNP on Friday accused the Awami League government of depleting the economy through ‘widespread plundering’.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with this accusation while speaking a discussion in Dhaka.

“The Finance Minister has said Hallmark will be given a chance to get a loan again. It means the economy will go under the control of plunderers,” Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said.

He said the ruling party leaders are destroying the economy through looting.

The BNP leader said Bangladesh’s economy has become hollow, although the government is projecting it as an ideal economy.

Saifur Rahman Smriti Parishad arranged the programme at the Jatiya Press Club, marking the 10th death anniversary of the former BNP standing committee member and finance minister.

Fakhrul said Saifur was a patriot who made outstanding contributions to the economy and gave it a strong footing without sacrificing the nation’s interests.

He said the coal-fired Rampal Power Plant near the Sundarbans would not have been set up had Saifur remained the finance minister.

The BNP leader also criticised the government for growing corruption in different sectors and projects.

BNP Standing Committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain said Saifur worked as a Finance Minister for the proper distribution of national resources among the people.

“We saw how he worked to improve the condition of the poor,” he said, adding that the former finance minister used to focus on building infrastructure in rural areas.

“But the current government isn’t giving much allocation for the development of the rural areas,” he said.

Mosharraf also accused the government of protecting the interests of the rich and ignoring the poor.