BNP govt ‘largely failed’ in 6 months: Porwar

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar has accused the BNP-led government of “largely failing” during its first six months, alleging that it is following the path of the previous authoritarian government.

He made the remarks at a press conference at Al-Falah Auditorium in Moghbazar, Dhaka, on Tuesday while presenting Jamaat’s assessment of the government’s performance.

“Six months is not a short period. Based on this period, we can say that the government has largely failed and is following the path of the fascist government,” Porwar said.

He alleged that officials considered not to be close to the ruling party were being transferred or made officers on special duty (OSD).

Porwar criticised the government’s handling of the July Charter and referendum, saying it had failed to fulfil commitments made before the election. He also criticised the government over the ongoing gas, electricity and fuel crisis, claiming that the country faces a gas shortfall of around 1,000 million cubic feet per day.

On law and order, Porwar claimed that 605 murders occurred during the first 110 days, along with increases in robbery, abduction, theft and violence against women and children.

He also raised concerns over rising commodity prices, the banking sector, agriculture, education, healthcare and judicial independence.

The Jamaat leader criticised the government’s foreign policy, citing border killings, push-ins and the Rohingya crisis.

However, he welcomed the rise in foreign exchange reserves and the government’s initiative to form a committee to address the energy crisis, attributing the reserve growth mainly to remittances from expatriate Bangladeshis.

Senior Jamaat leaders, including Mujibur Rahman, Dr AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, Rafiqul Islam Khan, Nurul Islam Bulbul and other central and metropolitan leaders, attended the press conference.