Dhaka, June 17 (UNB) – Environment and Forests Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud on Sunday alleged that the just-released BNP leaders are behind the violence by garment workers in Ashulia.

“They’re (opposition) hatching a conspiracy to stop the wheel of the moving economy and progress in the RMG export. BNP and its leaders, freed from jail on bail, are involved in the RMG unrest,” he told parliament while taking part in general discussion on the proposed budget for fiscal 2012-2013.

Hasan Mahmud said no one would be allowed to stop the ‘wheel of progress’ through any conspiracy. “We’ll stand against it (conspiracy) with the people of the country.”

About the opposition’s move to expand the 18-party alliance, he said, “I think BNP is a political club. More members from some political clubs are joining the club.”

Mahmud also aired doubt whether the alliance will ultimately be able to survive saying, “a banana tree collapses when it gets taller because it needs support to stand straight”.

The minister sharply criticised some of the experts and caretaker government advisers saying that they talk too much against the country’s economy in different late night talk-shows.

“They only talk after zero hour to pinpoint mistakes. They don’t see anything positive,” he said.

He advised them to raise the hopes and aspirations of people instead of making them frustrated. “They (caretaker government) couldn’t bring growth in GDP, per capita income and export.”