"The BNP-Jamaat-led coalition government is spending public money on the lobbyist group only for its political and personal interest," said Saber Hossain Chowdhury, political secretary to opposition leader Sheikh Hasina.

Addressing a press conference at the AL Dhanmondi office, Saber said the government wants a US certificate to regain power and is spending taxpayers' money for that. "But it must keep in mind that only people and the voters of this country will give such a certificate," he said.

Comparing the government's "conspiracy of election engineering" to the "tip of the iceberg", the frontline AL leader suspected that the government might have more such hidden deals with the US lobbyists so that they can play roles in favour of the coalition government in the election year.

The image of the BNP-Jamaat government is tarnished due to rise of militant groups under their "direct" shelter, unabated corruption by alliance loyalists, human rights violations and slide in law and order, Saber said.

An amount of $75,000 per month is being spent from the public exchequer to build the image of the ruling alliance, he said, adding that the agreement aims at propagating for a "failed" government and its leaders rather than addressing public interest.

The agreement has no place for issues like quota free access for Bangladeshi readymade garment to the US market and US investment here, "which proves the ill motives of the lobbyist appointment", he added.

The Anti-Corruption Commi-ssion should look into the matter in the interest of the country, he said.

"The government made the secret deal [with The Washington Group and Ketchum Washington] in October last year," Saber said. "Who decided to appoint the lobbyist group--is it the prime minister herself, her cabinet or the Hawa Bhaban men?" he questioned.

He said the lobbyist group arranged visits of a number of ministers, including Law Minister Moudud Ahmed, State Minister for Home Lutfozzaman Babar and BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Tarique Rahman, in the US during the last six months.

Saber also raised questions about the activities of the Bangladesh mission in the US, saying, "What is the function of the embassy there if the government has to go for appointing lobbyist groups in the name of image building?"

He said the image of a country cannot be enhanced by appointing lobbyists--it needs proper policy and good work of the government.

Asked if he thinks that the same lobbyists arranged the PM's recent interview with the Time Magazine, Saber said it is not clear to him yet.

It is fortunate for a country when its prime minister appears on the cover of an international magazine, but it is not acceptable if the interview is arranged by any such mechanism or lobbyist, he said.

Copies of the agreement between the government and the Washington Group were distributed at the press conference where AL central leaders Abdul Mannan Khan, BM Mozammel Huq and Mahbubul Huq Shakil were present.