BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Thursday slammed the government for its plan to increase the prices of electricity and fuel in March, labeling it as 'anti-people, and ‘cruel’.

"The government has planned to increase the prices of electricity and fuel in March which has been reported in different media. The government which has captured power illegally can take such an anti-people and unacceptable decision," he said.

"This decision will be extremely ruthless. The decision ahead of Ramadan means adding salt to injury. Those with moderate and low incomes are already struggling, with 80% of the population not experiencing any rise in their income. People are living in extreme hardship, with some facing hunger and malnutrition. The government's decision to raise the prices of electricity and fuel will push the people into danger," added Rizvi.

People want to establish their rights inspired by the spirit of 21st February: BNP 

Rizvi said  if the prices of electricity and fuel increase, it will have a negative impact on the common people through a chain reaction. Agriculture, industries, and factories will suffer, he added.

The BNP strongly condemns the plan of hiking prices of electricity and fuel, he said adding that if the government increases the prices the party will announce protest programmes.

Although the present occupying regime show their love for Bengali language and culture, in reality the country is being turned into a center of foreign languages and cultures, said Rizvi.

“The evidences are everywhere in Bangladesh. Today, when you turn on the television you see Hindi drama, Hindi cinema. Indian films are being screened in the movie halls. What are they for?"

BNP chairperson's advisory council member Zainul Abedin Farroque was, among others, present at the press briefing.