Dhaka: BNP spokesman Asaduzzaman Ripon on Tuesday alleged that the government now has started ‘interfering’ in trade and business of the opposition leaders and activists out of political vengeance.

‘The government has resorted to vengeance to make its narrow political gains …it’s now not only limited to political arena or political parties. They’re now interfering in the business institutions of opposition leaders and activists,’ he said.

Speaking at a press briefing at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, Ripon further said the worst example of the government’s such vindictive attitude is the rejection of Dhaka Bank’s proposal to reappoint Mirza Abbas as its director. We strongly condemn the government’s such policy.’

Earlier on Sunday, Bangladesh Bank turned down a Dhaka Bank proposal for reappointing BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas as a director of the bank, as he has been charged with several criminal cases.

Dhaka Bank had submitted an application to the central bank some time in May urging for reappointment of Abbas, as he is one of the founding sponsors of the bank—as his three-year tenure expired in March.

Ripon said, ‘We think Mirza Abbas was removed from the post of Dhaka Bank’s director to fulfil the government’s political revenge. Our party also considers the central bank decision in this regard as a politically motivated one. We hope the government will move back from the path of political vengeance in the interest of democratic practice.’

The BNP leader also urged the central bank to revoke its decision of not approving Mirza Abbas as a Dhaka Bank director.

He said the Bangladesh Bank has failed to maintain and restore discipline in the entire financial management. ‘The state-owned banks have got ruined due to unabated plundering and corruption, but the central bank couldn’t do anything to check it.’

Ripon also alleged that the ruling party men are getting reappointment to the board of directors of state-owned banks even after indulging in corruption.

He said the government has set a bad example by not approving the proposal for appointing Abbas as a Dhaka Bank director.

‘It’s now reality that politicians might have involvement in business and business initiatives at this age of free market economy. But, we think it’s the worst policy to create obstacles to anybody’s business with a political motive to suppress him or her,’ he observed.

The BNP spokesman assured that their party, if returns to power, will not follow such a vindictive policy.