Food minister ‘lying’ over extent of crop damage in flood: BNP

BNP yesterday alleged that Food Minister Quamrul Islam resorted to a blatant lie over the extent of damage of crops in flood-affected haor areas, reports UNB. "The Food Minister two days back said only three percent crops--six lakh metric tonnes of paddy--have been damaged in haor areas by flood and another seven lakh metric tonnes paddy have been damaged for various reasons. I would like to say Quamrul Islam spread blatant lies over the crop damage in haor regions," said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Speaking at a press briefing at BNP's Nayapaltan central office, he also said, "There's no similarity between the minister's statistics and the reality. Almost entire crops in haor areas have got damaged."
The BNP leader also criticised the government for what he said its failure to keep the rice market stable over the last
nine years.
He also alleged that the prices of essentials, including rice, sugar, salt, pulses, oil, onion, garlic and vegetables, are on the rise due to plundering and corruption by ruling party men.
Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Wednesday's comment that the conspirators of Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman killing were ‘within the Awami League’, Rizvi said the Prime Minister have realised the fact a bit.
He advised the Prime Minister to stay alert about people around her instead of blaming others.
The BNP leader also called upon Hasina to ‘restore’ democracy and people’s voting and other rights and take steps for holding an acceptable and credible election under a neutral administration.
Turning down the Prime Minister’s allegation that Ziaur Rahman had obstructed her from coming home in 1981, Rizvi questioned how Hasina entered the country on May 17, 1981 as Zia was in power at that time.

Food minister lying over extent of crop damage in flood: BNP

BNP yesterday alleged that Food Minister Quamrul Islam resorted to a blatant lie over the extent of damage of crops in flood-affected haor areas, reports UNB. The Food Minister two days back said only three percent crops--six lakh metric tonnes of paddy--have been damaged in haor areas by flood and another seven lakh metric tonnes paddy have been damaged for various reasons. I would like to say Quamrul Islam spread blatant lies over the crop damage in haor regions, said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Speaking at a press briefing at BNPs Nayapaltan central office, he also said, Theres no similarity between the ministers statistics and the reality. Almost entire crops in haor areas have got damaged. The BNP leader also criticised the government for what he said its failure to keep the rice market stable over the last nine years. He also alleged that the prices of essentials, including rice, sugar, salt, pulses, oil, onion, garlic and vegetables, are on the rise due to plundering and corruption by ruling party men. Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasinas Wednesdays comment that the conspirators of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman killing were within the Awami League, Rizvi said the Prime Minister have realised the fact a bit. He advised the Prime Minister to stay alert about people around her instead of blaming others. The BNP leader also called upon Hasina to restore democracy and peoples voting and other rights and take steps for holding an acceptable and credible election under a neutral administration. Turning down the Prime Ministers allegation that Ziaur Rahman had obstructed her from coming home in 1981, Rizvi questioned how Hasina entered the country on May 17, 1981 as Zia was in power at that time.