A 10-year plan to address power crisis will be tabled in Parliament, says PM
PM Tarique Rahman. Agamir Somoy photo.
BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that some individuals are trying to exploit the electricity crisis to create chaos on the streets. He said that no crisis can be solved overnight and that the crisis must be tackled with patience, a cool head, and a gradual move forward with planning.
He made these remarks on Sunday around noon in Kishoreganj's Pakundia upazila, at the Mirzapur Chairman Bari Ghat area, during an event marking National Fisheries Week 2026. There, he released fish fry into the old Brahmaputra River, distributed fish fry among local fishermen, and exchanged greetings with local people.
The Prime Minister said that many people across various districts and upazilas, as well as in Dhaka, are currently suffering from electricity shortages. He stated that this crisis in the power and energy sectors was created by the unplanned measures of the previous autocratic government. He added that the next session of the national parliament will begin on August 27, and in that session, the government will present to the public its plan for solving the country's electricity problems over the next ten years.
Regarding the power crisis, Tarique Rahman said that some individuals are trying to take advantage of the situation to create disorder on the streets and roads. He noted that when street chaos occurs, ordinary people are the ones who suffer the most, and their businesses and trade also face losses. He further stated that the autocratic government had destroyed every system of the country, including the economy, foreign policy, education, and health. He said that after taking office, his government found these systems in a ruined state, and now they have to rebuild the country from that destruction.
On the subject of obstructing development and state reform, the Prime Minister said that the people must stand firm against those who would hinder development work, create street chaos, and mislead the public with false information. He emphasized that now is the time to move the country forward and that everyone must work together hand in hand to repair and reconstruct the state.
He also stated that the owners of the country are the people of Bangladesh, and everyone must remain vigilant to uphold the democratic rights of the nation's citizens.
On women's education, the Prime Minister said that the government has decided to make education free for women up to the Honours level to broaden their educational opportunities, with all educational expenses to be borne by the state. He added that stipends would also be provided for girls who achieve good results. There are also plans to provide school dresses and school bags every year to primary school children from poor families in rural areas, with an initiative underway to deliver school bags to approximately 1.2 crore children.
Regarding making women self-reliant, the BNP Chairman said that among the country's four crore families, those women who are heads of households and manage the family will gradually be given family cards. He said there is a plan to deliver these cards to every home in the country over the next five years, and as part of this, the family card program was being inaugurated in Kishoreganj.
On the fisheries sector, the Prime Minister informed that the fish released into the old Brahmaputra River would grow, lay eggs, and spread into various canals and wetlands, with the benefits going to the people of Bangladesh.
Present at the event were Fisheries and Livestock Minister Mohammad Amin Ur Rashid, State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Kishoreganj district BNP president and State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md. Shariful Alam, district BNP general secretary and Member of Parliament for Kishoreganj-1 constituency Md. Mazharul Islam, Member of Parliament for Kishoreganj-2 constituency Advocate Md. Jalal Uddin, along with local administration officials, political leaders, fishermen, and dignitaries.
Earlier, when the Prime Minister arrived at the Mirzapur Chairman Bari Ghat area, local leaders, activists, and ordinary people welcomed him. Afterwards, he released fish fry into the old Brahmaputra River.
