BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas on Friday alleged that the Awami League (AL) government has made the country a "bottomless basket" again by indulging in widespread corruption and plundering.

“Many people get goosebumps hearing the name of Ziaur Rahman as he did what they (AL) were supposed to do," he said.

Speaking at a mass prayer programme, the BNP leader said late President Ziaur Rahman had uplifted the country from the condition of a bottomless basket during his brief tenure of only three and a half years.

“This government has made that Bangladesh bottomless again," he said.

Dhaka South City unit BNP arranged the programme on the road in front of the BNP's Nayapaltan central office in the afternoon seeking the salvation of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, marking his 43rd death anniversary.

The leaders, activists and supporters of BNP from different wards of Dhaka south city participated in the prayers.

They also offered a munajat praying for eternal peace of Zia’s departed soul and good health of party chief Khaleda Zia.

Abbas, a BNP standing committee member, slammed the government for hiking the fuel price when the country’s people are going through serious trouble to cope with the skyrocketing prices of daily essentials.

“I saw in the newspaper that the price of fuel has been increased by Tk 2.5 per liter...this price was increased when people are struggling due to the growing price hikes in all commodities,” he said.

The BNP leader feared that the prices of commodities will go up further with the rise in fuel price. “When the price of electricity and fuel increases, it badly affects the lives and livelihoods of people.”

He said the ruling party has put the country’s people in a dire situation by establishing a reign of terror. “We used to hear that Bargis used to come to the country and flee with looted goods and assets. Now the new Bargis (AL) are in power. They don't leave the country after plundering as they smuggle the wealth and money out of the country."