Special Correspondent //

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Acting Secretary General of the BNP and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political and Industrial Affairs, stated that Jamaat has no role in movements concerning the public interest. He remarked that due to their history of deceiving the people, they have never been able to fully gain public trust.

He made these remarks yesterday, Tuesday, at a discussion meeting titled “The Role of the Government and Opposition in Establishing a Democratic State,” organized by the Nationalist Like-Minded Alliance at the Zahur Hossain Chowdhury Hall of the National Press Club.

Referring to incidents of bus and train arson and crude bomb (cocktail) explosions across the country, Rizvi noted that buses and trains were set on fire in areas such as Madhya Badda, Uttara, Mirpur, and Kafrul, while crude bombs were detonated in front of the High Court and university main gates. He claimed there was a link between these incidents and political activities. At the same time, he urged those organizing long marches against rising commodity prices, extortion, and corruption to also launch programs protesting these acts of violence.

Citing the vandalism at Rajshahi Railway Station, he addressed Jamaat, stating that alongside programs against price hikes, extortion, and corruption, they should also hold protest meetings and rallies against orchestrated acts of terror.

Claiming that the government still incurs a loss of approximately 70 Taka per liter of diesel sold—even after the price adjustment—Rizvi explained that due to rising international fuel prices, the government’s cost to procure a liter of diesel had reached around 205 Taka. Yet, for a long period, diesel was sold domestically at 115 Taka per liter, resulting in a loss of about 90 Taka per liter for the government.

Noting that the loss has not been fully offset despite a recent 20-Taka adjustment in the diesel price, he stated that the government still loses approximately 70 Taka on every liter sold.

Highlighting diesel prices in various other countries during the discussion, Rizvi noted that the price per liter is approximately 161 Taka in Nepal, 164 Taka in Myanmar, 179.42 Taka in Sri Lanka, and 188.50 Taka in the Philippines. He also mentioned that the price of diesel exceeds 134 Taka per liter in India. According to Rizvi, diesel was sold in Bangladesh at Tk 115 per litre for a long period, even while fuel oil prices were rising in the international market. Although the price was subsequently raised by Tk 20, the government continues to incur losses.

Others who spoke at the meeting included the Prime Minister’s Special Political Assistant Rashed Khan, Barrister Nasim Khan (Chief Coordinator of the Nationalist Like-minded Alliance), and spokesperson S.M. Shahadat.

Read the news regularly and share your views.