Comparing Ethiopia with Bangladesh, Hafiz Uddin said the country's social system had deteriorated to the point where good people had little opportunity to contest elections or engage in politics.
TBS Report
22 October, 2026, 11:35 am
Last modified: 22 October, 2026, 11:42 am
The worst people in society become members of parliament and ministers, while the most corrupt individuals become leaders, Speaker Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram said.
He made the remarks at a reception organised by the Tajumuddin upazila unit of the BNP and its affiliated organisations at the Upazila Parishad hall in Bhola yesterday (21 October).
Sharing his experiences from recent visits to Tanzania and Ethiopia, the speaker said Ethiopia was highly developed and had virtually no theft or robbery.
He said, "Ordinary people's homes in Ethiopia had no window grilles or other security measures. When Bangladesh's ambassador to Ethiopia wanted to install grilles at his residence, local people were surprised and asked what they were for, as they could not imagine anyone breaking into another person's home to steal."
Comparing Ethiopia with Bangladesh, Hafiz Uddin said the country's social system had deteriorated to the point where good people had little opportunity to contest elections or engage in politics.
"I do not blame you for this. The social system itself has become such that good people have no opportunity to contest elections. We have not been able to create an environment for honest people to engage in politics," he said.
The speaker also accused the previous Awami League government of subjecting political opponents to oppression, torture and false cases, saying many had been unjustly sent to jail.
He said they had prayed to Allah for relief from the situation and claimed that those responsible for the previous government's misrule had fled the country, leaving behind assets worth thousands of crores of taka abroad.
"Allah may grant respite, but He never lets wrongdoing go unpunished. The Awami League, along with its associates, has fled the country, leaving behind assets worth thousands of crores of taka abroad. Sheikh Hasina used to say loudly that the Awami League never flees. Where are they now?" he said.