Rehana Akter Ranu, a BNP lawmaker from the reserved seats for women, has demanded that deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina be extradited and subjected to electric shocks.
Participating in the budget discussion in Parliament on Tuesday, Ranu referred to the widely discussed secret detention facility known as “Aynaghar.” She alleged that during Hasina’s tenure, opposition leaders were subjected to electric shocks in that facility.
“Hasina should be brought back and made to sit in that same chair to receive electric shocks, so she can experience how it feels,” Ranu said.
The BNP leader urged party activists to remain united, warning that internal discord could pave the way for Hasina’s return. She remarked that if Hasina returns, the lives of those who turned their social media profile pictures red during the 2024 mass uprising would “turn black.”
Ranu expressed deep regret regarding the victims of the 2024 uprising, noting that their families have yet to receive justice. She attributed this failure to the police not arresting the accused and the courts subsequently granting bail to those who are apprehended.
Administrative and revenue reforms
The MP further alleged that despite four months passing since the current government took office, influential figures from the previous administration still occupy various levels of the bureaucracy.
She expressed concern that these officials are acting as a “vicious circle” and will create obstacles in the implementation of the budget.
Ranu also launched a scathing attack on the National Board of Revenue (NBR), claiming that officials are more focused on lining their own pockets than collecting government revenue. She called for an immediate “surgical operation” in the revenue sector to restore momentum.
In her speech, Ranu described the Jatiya Party – the main opposition during the last three terms of the Awami League – as a “mewing” opposition. Conversely, she praised Jamaat-e-Islami as a “genuine, polished, and effective” opposition party.
Addressing the banking sector, the BNP MP highlighted extreme chaos, looting, and money laundering. She demanded that the properties of bank looters be auctioned to refund ordinary depositors.
Her economic proposals included the withdrawal of the mandatory TIN requirement for opening bank accounts, the cancellation of the proposed 10 per cent tax on savings certificates, and the implementation of strict monitoring for the essential commodities market.
Finally, Ranu placed several development demands for the Feni region, including the establishment of a medical college and a public university, the construction of the Lalpul flyover, the restoration of domestic gas connections, and the introduction of “family cards” for women.
