SOUTH ASIA • INDEPENDENT • GLOBAL
Attempts are being made to destabilise parts of the country with the direct backing of a neighbouring country, Leader of the Opposition and Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said today.
He made the remarks at a meeting of opposition lawmakers at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban this afternoon.
Referring to the deteriorating law and order situation, Shafiqur said the government was completely failing to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property. If the situation persisted, the country’s stability, economy and democratic environment would be seriously affected, he warned.
He also expressed concern over the Matarbari project and the agreement signed with Japan, saying the decisions surrounding the project had created uncertainty among the public. Questions had also arisen over whether the agreement was being used as a cover for a conspiracy to provide a corridor to another country.
He called on the government to clarify its position and make public all the terms of the agreement and related information.
Turning to the garment sector, the country’s largest export-earning industry, Shafiqur said it was facing a deep crisis. The government’s failure to take effective initiatives to address the sector’s problems was posing serious risks to the economy and the labour market, he added.
At the meeting, Opposition Chief Whip and NCP Convener Nahid Islam said the government had failed to play an effective role in preventing the activities and violent actions of what he described as fascist terrorists.
Taking advantage of the government’s weakness, various terrorist groups were attempting to create anarchy across the country, he said, adding that covert attacks and violent incidents were taking place in different areas.
Nahid called on all patriotic forces to remain united against fascist terror and subversive activities.
The meeting also discussed several key national issues, including the prime minister’s recent visit to Japan, the Matarbari project, renewal of the Ganges water-sharing treaty, alleged irregularities in the appointment of fertiliser dealers, the acceptability of the constitutional amendment committee’s activities, and what the opposition described as government negligence in the trial of the July mass killings.
The lawmakers stressed the need for transparent disclosure of all information concerning the Matarbari project’s agreement, financing and implementation, as well as matters affecting national interests.
