BNP leaders should do some serious introspection: Info minister

Information Minister Hasan Mahmud said that the people had wholeheartedly rejected BNP leaders in the last three elections, and they should now engage in some serious introspection.

He made the remarks at a discussion to commemorate the historic Homecoming Day of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. 

Bangladesh Awami Hawkers League organised the event at the National Press Club in the capital on Saturday.

Hasan Mahmud said, "BNP's Rizvi Ahmed, Mirza Fakhrul [Islam Alamgir], Gayeshwar [Chandra Roy] Babu, Dr Zafrullah [Chowdhury] and a few others sometimes visit the press club and speak [at events]. You have alienated yourself from the people, you have been rejected in the last three elections, you should now do some serious introspection. Otherwise, your rhetoric will be heard only on television cameras, in your Naya Paltan office and the National Press Club."

Addressing the BNP, the information minister said, "Bangladesh has moved forward today, and they (BNP leaders) can't stand it. They can't stand that the Padma Bridge has been constructed.

"Therefore, they cannot tolerate the visible development, which has been spearheaded by the people's leader Sheikh Hasina: development, which has reignited hopes and aspirations amongst millions. I will request BNP leaders not to blindly criticise the government, point those fingers at yourselves."

Urging BNP leaders to read the reports of international organisations like International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, World Monitor, the UN and The Economist, the information minister said they did not read them.

He said, "I will request pro-BNP doctors in the Doctors Association of Bangladesh to examine the eyesight and hearing of Rizvi Ahmed, Mirza Fakhrul and others who refuse to see the obvious."

Awami League's Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi; Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap Prakhu also spoke at the discussion chaired by the former president of Awami Hawkers League SM Zakaria Hanif.