DHAKA: BNP spurned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina`s invitation to present their budget proposals before parliament--a day after the main opposition party published a mock budget and the PM made the instant overture.
The rejection came from party secretary-general Khandaker Delwar Hossain at a press conference at the party`s central office Tuesday.
Prime minister Sheikh Hasina, while addressing a discussion on the historic 7th June at Osmani Memorial Hall Monday, invited opposition leader and ex-PM Khaleda Zia to join the parliament with her budget proposals she laid out through a media meet earlier in the day.
“The parliament`s atmosphere is not favorable for BNP to present its budget proposals. We were not even allowed to speak in the parliament,” Delwar deplored in rejecting the PM’s proposal for the boycotting opposition.
He further aired the party skepticism that the government invited them to go to parliament for misleading the people.
“Besides, it is harassing BNP leaders by filing `fake` cases against them,” Delwar said.
Meanwhile, BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia presented a shadow budget for the next fiscal year—first of its kind in Bangladesh--at a city hotel on Monday afternoon.
Nazrul Islam Khan, Standing Committee Member of BNP, Mirza Faqrul Islam Alamgir, Senior Joint Secretary-General, Aman Ullah Aman, Joint Secretary-General, and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi attended the press conference, arranged to protest the PM’s remarks.
The opposition party called upon the Prime minister to accept their proposals and “protect people’s interest”.
Replying to a question about the planned 27th June ‘hartal`, Delwar told reporters that they want to hold a peaceful protest programme. “The government will be held responsible for any occurrence if it the programme is hindered,” he said in a forewarning.
Condemning the arrest of acting editor of the daily Amar Desh Mahmudur Rahman and the closure of the daily`s publication, Delwar claimed police are torturing Mahmud during remand.
BNP expressed their concern over what they said ‘naked’ interference of government in the media.
BDST 1550 hrs June 8, 2010
MM/RS/SMS/MUA
