"The 20-party top leaders had a virtual meeting yesterday (Sunday) where they proposed setting up temporary hospitals in labour-intensive and densely-populated areas of the country for Covid testing and treatment, and running them later under public-private joint ownership,” said 20-party coordinator Nazrul Islam Khan.
Speaking at an online press briefing, he urged the wealthy section of people to play a pro-active role in this regard. “The 20-party thinks the government can take support from international organisations and friendly countries in this regard.”
Nazrul, also a BNP standing committee member, said their alliance believes that the country’s health system would have developed substantially had the ministers, MPs, public leaders and bureaucrats received treatment in public hospitals of the county like the late King of Thailand, former Prime Ministers of Singapore and Malaysia.
He said their alliance also demanded the government immediately revoke its decision of imposing fee on coronavirus test.
Nazrul said the 20-party leaders voiced their displeasure over the 'unnecessary delay' in approving the corona testing kits developed by Gonoshasthaya Kendra and corruption in importing low-quality kits, masks, PPEs and other health safety gears and materials.
They demanded suspension of electricity, gas and water bills till December considering the plight of people. “The 20-party meeting denounced the government's initiative to force struggling people to pay the electricity, gas and water bills. We demand that the collection of these bills be postponed till December and waived for the unemployed people.”
About the national budget for 2020-21 fiscal, Nazrul said their alliance turned down the budget as it will not help ensure welfare of the poor. “The budget will only protect the interests of the rich and the ruling party leaders.”
The BNP leader said the 20-party opposed the government’s decision to shut down the state-owned jute mills as they think the jute farmers will be affected badly if the mills are closed.