The BNP yesterday urged the government as well as its leaders and activists to extend support to the victims of cyclonic storm Roanu in the coastal areas of Bangladesh.

“Cyclone Roanu has already made its landfall in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Hundreds of thousands of people are suffering because of it. We want to request the government to extend its all-out support to protect the lives and properties of the victims in the coastal areas,” said Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, BNP standing committee member, at a discussion yesterday.

The discussion, organised by Doctors’ Association of Bangladesh (DAB), took place at National Press Club in Dhaka.

The BNP leader also urged party leaders and activists, including DAB members, to join the relief efforts on humanitarian grounds.

Remembering the contribution of late president Ziaur Rahman in Bangladesh, Mosharraf said: “Ziaur Rahman introduced multi-party democracy in the country. The government that assumed power after the Liberation War killed the spirit of the War and democracy and established one-party rule.”

He claimed that although the incumbent government claim to be elected, they were not elected through voting, so they do not represent people.

“In a nutshell, democracy is now in life support at an ICU,” he said.

Mosharraf further alleged that the government had destroyed the country’s economy, judicial system, administration and other state organs.