Dhaka: Slamming the government for Bangladesh Bank’s (BB’s) reserve account heist, Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior leader Moudud Ahmed on Saturday alleged that an anarchic situation has been created in the country as the current administration has no accountability.

Speaking at a discussion, he also said the country’s people do not believe that the Tk 800 crore was taken away from the BB reserve account without the involvement of the central bank officials.

‘Thousands of crores of taka had earlier been plundered from the state banks. Pro-government businesspeople had also swindled out thousands of crores of public money through the big share market, Hallmark and destiny scandals. No one is punished for the incidents. So, now they pawed at the central bank,’ Moudud said.

He further said, ‘Huge money is being stolen from Bangladesh Bank’s reserve account through hacking. No one in the country believes that this heist was committed without the central bank officials’ help.’

The BNP leader urged the government to identify those who are behind such an incident and punish them. ‘We think an anarchic situation has been prevailing in the country as the government has no accountability,’ he said.

The BNP leader said a political vacuum has been created in the country for lack of democracy. ‘Now I don’t get inspiration to join any programme and speak up as there’s no democracy here.’  

He cautioned that the emergence of terrorism, militancy and extremism is inevitable in a country where political vacuum is created. ‘The evil force will fill the vacuum and destroy the country. So, it’s a national problem and we’ve to face it together. It’ll be a blunder, if the government thinks it can tackle it with the police and RAB, and the nation will have to pay dearly for the mistake, Moudud observed.

He called upon the government to take a step for uniting the nation to eliminate extremism. ‘BNP will come forward if the government wants it help in this regard.  

Moshiur Rahman Jatiya Smrity Parishad organised the programme at National Press Club marking the 37th death anniversary of late politician Moshiur Rahman Jadu Miah.

The BNP leader said a false propaganda has been launched linking BNP to extremism and militancy just to malign the party and confuse people. ‘BNP is a liberal democratic party which was founded based on the spirit of the Liberation War.’

Moudud said their party, if returns to power, will take a special programme to eliminate militancy and extremism from the country. ‘We’ll never tolerate extremism and militancy.’

He questioned the government why the country is instable and the incidents of killing and violence against women are increasing when there is no movement and political programmes of the opposition. ‘In fact, there’s no good governance in the country.’

Referring to the announcement of Malaysian government to annul a deal of taking 15 lakh workers from Bangladesh, Moudud said it happened for lack of the government’s competence and farsightedness.