BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia today accused the government of importing "rotten wheat" from Brazil.

"This is cow food and the government wants to feed it to the countrymen," she said while addressing an iftar programme at a hotel in Dhaka.

The BNP leader came up with the remarks following media reports on the purchase of substandard Brazilian wheat.

Insiders said the wheat was accepted although the suppliers failed to provide the crop year certificate and the Certificate of Standard and Quality of Wheat, issued either by Brazil's agriculture ministry or chamber of commerce.

The Brazilian wheat is up for distribution among law enforcement agencies and under safety net schemes, but the police force has already complained of its poor quality along with some dealers and flour mill operators in different parts of country.

On increase in depositions in Swiss banks by Bangladeshis, she said, "Plundering of money is going on in the country. Money is being siphoned off and deposits are being increased in the Swiss banks…Most of the depositors likely to be from the ruling party."

National People's Party, a component of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, arranged the iftar.

The former prime minister called upon the countrymen to come forward and resist the ongoing repression, abduction and killing by the ruling party.

"The people are now concerned by the repression, abduction and killing. I call upon them to resist the government from their own positions, instead of looking at us only," she added.