The government had turned the country into Hirak Rajar Desh and it would meet the same fate as Hirak Raja, said Bangladesh Nationalist Party Standing Committee member Mirza Abbas on Tuesday.

‘Bangladesh did not become independent to establish anyone’s one-party rule. Bangladesh became independent to ensure democracy, freedom of speech and right to franchise. It’s not a kingdom of any king or queen and not to turn a Hirak Rajar Desh,’ he said.

The BNP leader came up with the remarks while addressing a road march programme of the party at Jhenaidah bus terminal.

The BNP road march started at 11:45am from Jhenaidah town and ended at Khulna via Jashore and Magura.

He also urged the leaders and activists of BNP to get prepared to topple the government.

Abbas also said that the health condition of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was critical.

The BNP leader alleged that the Awami League government had made the country bankrupt through money laundering. ‘When we raise our voice, the law enforcement agencies arrest us and send us to jail. These will not be tolerated in an independent country,’ he said.

‘The amount of Bangladesh’s defaulted loan was Tk 21,000 crore and now the amount is Tk 109 thousand crore. People want to know where this money has gone?’ he added.

Earlier on September 18, BNP announced a 15-day programme till October 3, including road marches, as part of their ongoing one point-movement demanding resignation of the government. The programme was extended by two days till October 5 on Thursday.