Mahmudur Rahman Manna, the top leader of the Ganatantra Manch and the president of Nagorik Oikya, said that the government is so capable that the OC runs away from the police station but doesn't notice. I saw earlier that thieves can't run away. And now the leaders of the thieves run away. The government has not been able to do anything practical to catch any of those who looted.
He said these things at a human chain organized in front of the National Press Club on Saturday (January 11) to protest the government's decision to close the TCB truck cell, cancel the cards of 43 lakh families and increase customs duty on more than a hundred products. The human chain was organized by Nagorik Oikya.
Mahmudur Rahman said, "We have talked about reforms and we want reforms. This government (interim government) has talked about reforms. An unelected government, a government formed in a special situation, they are the government for the time it takes to form one government from one government to another. They will do whatever needs to be done during this time. But, they have not done a single thing for the welfare of the poor people till now.
Referring to Dr. Yunus, he said, IMF will give Bangladesh 664 crore dollars or 670 crore dollars. Instead of giving money, they have asked to increase VAT tax on 100 items. You are a good person. You are better off. We are not disrespecting you. But, if my stomach is burning with hunger, I will say, why you paid these taxes. What work have you been able to do yet? Are the banks functioning properly? Can they pay the same amount of money as they give? So far, the banks are operating according to their rules? Is there proper liquidity in all the banks? We are not taking Dr. Yunus to task for that. We are not taking the interim government to task. But, what we have heard is that Dr. Yunus will actually change the face of the country, he has so many friends, so many fans all over the world; they will all give money and our crisis will end. In this way, we have not been given any money from abroad so far.
Addressing the chief adviser, he further said, you said that day that relations with our neighbors are becoming normal. But, we do not see relations becoming normal. I do not see that you have been able to make any new friends. Dr. Yunus' name is very famous around the world. But, I do not see that the name of Bangladesh has increased much.
He said, if you (Dr. Yunus) cannot lead this nation forward, towards progress, then no one will be able to do it after that. If you think of running the country according to the IMF's prescription, then we will have more fights with you. If there is a decision like the World Bank's suggestion, which will put pressure on the people, we will not support it. We will not accept it. If there is a fire of hunger in the stomach of the people, then they will not listen to reforms.
Mahmudur Rahman Manna said, my party will not come to power. But, even then, we want votes. We want votes for democracy. If BNP talks about a roadmap, then it will give a roadmap. Dr. Yunus's speech to the nation cannot be called a complete roadmap, but it can be called a guideline. Dr. Yunus said that the elections will be held either in December or in June. Let this be true. You (Dr. Yunus) have made all the calculations and said so. Do not take any more steps that will increase the suffering of the people.
This top leader of the Ganatantra Manch said that the government has formed 15 commissions. So far, no commission has given its report. It was said that it would be given in December. But, they said that it would be given in January. Half of January is also passing. But, no report has been given yet.
Mahmudur Rahman Manna, President of Nagorik Oikya, presided over the human chain. Many leaders were present at the human chain.