BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has warned that legal action will be taken against political parties or individuals attempting to create anarchy by spreading misinformation and confusion, urging everyone to remain within their respective limits.
“As an elected government, I want to make it clear that everyone needs to remain within their respective limits,” he said.
Tarique made the remarks at a discussion marking the BNP’s 48th founding anniversary at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Dhaka yesterday afternoon.
He also said his government would make every effort to uphold the democratic process and follow democratic principles and norms.
“Bangladesh’s people have given this government the responsibility to run the country. Of course, we will uphold the democratic process. We will make every effort to establish democratic principles and values,” he said.
‘Clandestine forces’
Tarique said the country was facing several problems and questioned whether forces that had remained “clandestine” during the previous regime were now taking shelter within different groups and attempting to create disorder.
He suggested that such forces could be working to bring back an authoritarian system.
Without naming any political party, Tarique said one party had maintained a “clandestine identity” during the previous authoritarian regime, a fact he claimed was later acknowledged by some of its leaders.
He alleged that such “clandestine forces” had protected and sheltered one another at different times since 1971, including in 1986, 1996, during the previous 12 years of rule and in the present period.
Energy crisis
Tarique identified the energy crisis as one of the biggest problems facing the country, saying shortages of electricity and fuel were hurting ordinary people as well as factory owners.
He said the BNP-led government had inherited a fragile economy along with problems in healthcare, education and communications, while global conflicts had added further pressure.
He said the government had tried to limit the burden on people despite increases in global fuel prices, although it had to raise fuel prices to some extent.
Election promises
Tarique said his government had begun implementing commitments made in the BNP’s election manifesto, including the Family Card for women and Farmer Card initiatives, as well as support for imams, khatibs and muezzins.
He also highlighted measures in education and healthcare, including plans to take healthcare services to people’s doorsteps in rural areas.
He said the budget had been designed to reduce pressure on people and that taxes had not been increased on around 60 essential commodities. Taxes on some other products had also been reduced, he added.
Tarique described the BNP’s manifesto as specific and accused other political parties of making “imaginary promises.”
‘Sustainable democracy’
Tarique said democracy alone was not enough and stressed the need to establish “sustainable democracy” in the country.
He said sustainable democracy would require people’s right to speak, press freedom, democratic practices and a stronger economy.
Referring to the BNP’s role in the 2024 mass movement, he said the party had openly participated in street and public movements rather than operating secretly.
He gave “entire credit” for the movement to the people.
Tarique also claimed that more than five million BNP leaders and activists had faced “ghost cases” during the previous 16 years of rule.
He acknowledged that the BNP had limitations but said voters had assessed the party’s record before giving it the responsibility of governing the country.
Call for party workers
Tarique urged BNP leaders and activists to work for the country rather than focus solely on securing posts.
He said not everyone could become an MP or minister and that most party members would remain workers, but they could still prove themselves as nationalist activists through their work.
He also called on party leaders and activists to participate in a plan to plant 250 million trees over the next five years.
The program was moderated by Fisheries and Livestock State Minister Sultan Salahuddin Tuku.
National Professor Mahbub Ullah, Prime Minister’s Political Adviser and MP Mirza Abbas, BNP Standing Committee members Ismail Zabiullah, Aman Ullah Aman and Farhad Halim Donar, Jubo Dal President Abdul Monaem and Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam also spoke at the discussion.
BNP Standing Committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moin Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman and AZM Zahid Hossain, among others, were present.