AL, BNP involved in extortion, lobbying:CPB

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Saturday, 28 January 2012

Author / Source : Staff Reporter

DHAKA, JAN 27: Awami League and BNP, two major political parties of the country, instead of doing fair politics, are involved in extortion and lobbying in the country, leaders of the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) alleged at a grand rally in the city on Friday. Sky-rocketing prices of essentials could be contained through mass distribution of goods, they said.

CPB organised the rally at Matsya Bhaban near Ramna park intersection in the city with its leaders and activists from across the country taking part in the meet. Party president Monjurul Ahsan Khan presided over the rally.
CPB also raised 11-point demands during the rally to establish people’s rights and create a congenial political atmosphere in the country.
“Both Awami League and BNP are involved in extortion, tender manipulation, lobbying, corruption and criminalization in the name of politics,” general secretary of CPB Mujahidul Islam Selim said.
When Awami League and BNP rule the country, the incidence of non- political activities including todbir (lobbying) increases significantly, he said. “Due to the plethora of non-political activities and lobbying, the names of the two major political parties should be charged as Todbir League or Todbir Party,” Selim added.
Criticising the Awami League-led grand alliance government, he said that the present government had completed three years in power but the people got nothing.
No place is earmarked to hold political programmes in Dhaka, he said, adding that political parties are not allowed to stage rallies at Paltan ground. “Is the grand alliance government is working to make the rallies impossible in the city? If the government does not arrange any alternative place for rally, we’ll be compelled to hold rallies at Paltan ground defying the law,’ he said.
The prices of essentials have gone beyond the people’s capacity and the inflation has reached the double digit, but the government remains silent, the secretary general said.
“The government should introduce rationing system and strengthen Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) to contain the price hike of essentials,” Selim said, “But the government cannot do it due to the intervention of World Bank and IMF. Instead, the government is increasing the prices of oil, gas, electricity and other essentials.”
Regarding the price hike of essentials, he said that it can be contained with the implementation of CPB’s demands and the right mass distribution system.
If CPB assumes power, it will be able to bring down prices of essentials within three months, Selim claimed.
He also vowed that CPB would continue its campaign to realise the share of 99 per cent poor people of the country.
Selim also came hard on the party in power for giving legality to the religion-based political parties through the 15th amendment to the constitution. “Sheikh Hasina-led grand alliance government giving legality to the religion based political parties. It also kept ‘Bismillah…..’ in the constitution bringing change in section 38 of the original constitution through the infamous amendment,” Selim said.
He expressed his apprehension about, as he said, an impeding catastrophe in the country, saying that BNP’s affection to the religious parties would take the country to the verge of dire consequence.
Selim urged the pro-liberation leaders of BNP to make a revolt against the party’s fondness to Jamaat-e-Islami.
Terming the present political condition of the country as ‘boiling pan’, he said that people want to get rid of present political crisis.
“The country is plunging deep into the trouble,” he said, “Only the left-democratic forces can save the country from this trouble.”
Assistant general secretary Syed Abu Zafar said that the USA and other capitalist forces are making unexpected comments on the trial of war criminals.
He called upon them to refrain from making such remarks on the trial of war criminals.
Zafar also urged the Indian government for not constructing structures on the common rivers. “The structures are changing the course of the common rivers, leaving Bangladesh in a disastrous condition. If you (the Indian government) to foster a good relationship with Bangladesh, please stop building structures on the common rivers,” he said.
CPB president Manjurul Ahsan Khan also criticized the Indian government for the killings of Bangladesh citizens in the borders by BSF and the construction of structures on the common rivers in the India part to control river waters.
“Indian helped us during our liberation war. We want to have friendship with India but that should not be the barbed wire friendship,” he said. 
Evaluating the performance of the present government, he said that Awami League failed to run the state. “If the leftists come to the power, the countrymen will survive,” Khan said.
With regards to army’s role, he said the army should be kept above all controversies.
Khan also announced that his party would organise road march, meeting, rally and other programmes from February 14 to 20 at all unions, upazilas and districts of the country to press home its 11 point demands.
Central committee member of CPB Ruhun Hossain Prince conducted the programme.
Among others, Shahidullah Chowdhury, Haider Akbar Rono, Jashim Uddin Mondol, Shamsuzzaman Selim, Sajjad Zahir Chandan, Laxmi Chakraborty, Montu Ghosh, Ahsan Habib Lavlu, Kafi Ratan and Ferdous ahmed Ujjal also spoke on the occasion.