Bangladesh Nationalist Party leaders on Monday said the prime minister would have to prove that the government was not involved in corruption in connection with the Padma Bridge project.
They said that the government scrapped the election-time caretaker government provision from the Constitution in order to stay in power till 2021.
BNP leaders urged the government to restore the caretaker government system by amending the Constitution in the current session of the Parliament.
The opposition leaders on Monday made the demand while addressing various gatherings in the city.
BNP’s standing committee member Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, speaking at a discussion organized by Shangbidhanik Odhikar Forum at the National Press Club, said the government has no control on any sector and so corruption has spread everywhere.
He said that when World Bank alleged corruption in the Padma Bridge Project in 2011, the prime minister dismissed the allegation and said categorically that there is no corruption in the project.
‘Now Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has to prove that her office was not engaged in corruption,’ Mosharraf said.
He also said corruption in the Padma Bridge Project would have a very negative impact on our economy.
‘If the BNP comes to power, we will take action against those involved in the Padma Bridge graft,’ he added.
At the same gathering opposition chief whip, Zainul Abdin Farroque, urged the government to place a Bill in the current session of the Parliament for restoring the caretaker government system.
He said that the government wants to be in power for a long time and therefore has scrapped the caretaker government system which ensures fair elections.
‘The BNP does not want any conflict and is ready for dialogue on the caretaker government system with government in any place and in any situation,’ Farroque said.
Addressing another gathering organized by Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal in front of the National Press Club, BNP’s standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said that cancellation of the WB’s loan for the Padma Bridge project has made it clear that the government is promoting corruption.
He said that the World Bank informed the government of corruption in the Padma Bridge project but the government paid no heed at all.
‘All the organs of the government have become corrupt and the government is oppressing the opposition to cover up its corruption,’ he added.
Nazrul said that if the government thought the WB’s allegation was false, it should have lodged a case against the bank. He said that the government would not do so as it has no courage.