Dhaka: BNP on Saturday alleged that the government has failed to arrange food for the people taken to shelter centres in coastal areas due to cyclone Fani.

‘Around 16 lakh people were taken to different shelter centres by Friday evening before the cyclone hit the country, and they were asked to return home on Saturday as the storm lost its potency,’ said BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, reports the UNB.

Speaking at a token hunger strike at BNP’s Nayapaltan central office, he further said, ‘The government didn’t take any step to ensure food for people at shelter centres. Thousands of people have taken shelter at those small centres with no facility for cooking. So, the government should’ve provided them with food.’

Jatiyatabadi Tanti Dal arranged the programme demanding BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia’s release from jail.

Protesting ruling party leaders’ comment that BNP is doing politics over a natural disaster, Rizvi said they are just raising voice in favour of cyclone-prone people as an opposition party. ‘As you (govt) have been in power, it’s your responsibility to save disaster-affected people, and give them food and shelter.’

He also questioned the government’s disaster preparedness since 15 people were killed in the last two days in different areas of the country as cyclone Fani crossed Bangladesh after hitting India’s Odisha and West Bengal coasts. ‘Though warnings had been issued for several days about the cyclone, the government didn’t take proper preparing to face it.’

The BNP leader renewed their party’s demand for the release of their chairperson Khaleda so that she can take proper treatment for her ‘serious’ illness.

He voiced grave concern over the life of Khaleda, saying the government is pushing her towards death in jail.

Rizvi recalled that their party leader Nasir Uddin Ahmed Pintu died in jail four years back for lack of treatment.

He called upon BNP leaders and activists to take to the streets if the government does not free Khaleda immediately from jail.