Take lesson from 1974 famine

 
BNP has warned the ruling party to take a lesson from the famine in 1974 as prices of food and daily essentials are soaring in the country. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir came up with the warning while addressing a discussion in the capital on Friday.

Jatiya Ganatantrik Party (Jagpa) arranged the discussion program at the National Press Club, marking the 41st death anniversary of Ziaur Rahman and the fifth death anniversary of party founder Shafiul Alam Pradhan. Mirza Fakhrul said, "I would like to warn Mr Obaidul Quader (AL general secretary) that you do not learn from history. There's the famine in 1974 when the prices of food grains went up."

He also called upon the government to restore people's rights, stop killings, forced disappearance, filing false cases, and release Khaleda Zia unconditionally. "Otherwise you will never get relief...we know they (AL) will not pay heed to it, and that is why their fall is inevitable." The former state minister also said the prices of food grains are increasing now again and people are going through immense suffering. "At this time, you are not reading the writings on the walls and taking the necessary initiatives. There is now no point in saying all those contradictory things and making unguarded remarks," he said.Fakhrul urged the government to return to the democratic system and create a democratic atmosphere to avoid possible public wrath. "Let the people speak up and exercise their rights. Otherwise, you'll have to face its consequences. You are threatening us with terrible consequences, but you saw such consequences in the past."