Bangladesh Nationalist Party senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday alleged that the government was busy with politicising the novel coronavirus, corruption and loot whereas thousands of people in the country were facing risks of their lives.

While addressing a virtual press conference from the party’s central office in the capital’s Naya Paltan area, the BNP leader alleged that the people were in utter risks of their lives due to the government’s wrong, suicidal and uncoordinated decisions in tackling the COVID-19 crisis.

He said that BNP stood by the poor and hungry people while footsteps of famine could be heard. Rizvi alleged that ruling Awami League activists were attacking and obstructing BNP’s relief distribution at places of the country.

Alleging that BNP leaders and activists were also facing cases and arrests, he said that the attacks and harassments were dragging the country towards further crisis.

‘The situation indicates that the government is not busy with rescuing the people from the COVID-19 crisis, rather they are busy with looting and protecting their power,’ he said.

Mentioning the June 21 attack on BNP relief team by AL leaders and activists in Satkhira, he criticised the AL general secretary’s comment on Monday seeking evidence of any such attack.

The BNP leader said that the incident was run on different newspapers, television channels, online news portals and even on social media. There were intelligence and other agencies, as well as local administration, to provide evidence of the attack, he said.

Rizvi questioned whether any evidence was needed to prove that the sun rises in the east.

He demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the attackers on the BNP relief team in Satkhira.