PM Seeks Party Support to Run ‘Successful Government’
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman speaks at the Krishibid Institution in Dhaka. Photo: taken from video footage.
Calling the coming period ‘extremely difficult’, BNP Chairperson and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged full cooperation from party leaders, activists and supporters to run what he called a ‘successful government’.
He made the call while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion held on Sunday afternoon at the Krishibid Institution in Farmgate, Dhaka. The event was organized by the party to mark the 45th martyrdom anniversary of BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman.
Addressing party leaders, activists and supporters, Tarique Rahman said, “We are facing a very difficult time ahead. At the same time, it is also a very important time. If we take this critical and difficult period lightly, it will cause serious harm to the country and future generations. They are, after all, our own successors. So let us try to govern the country in the same direction as Shaheed Zia envisioned, the way he wanted to build and move the country forward.”
The Prime Minister said that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had aimed to gradually develop every sector to make the country self-reliant. He added that the government has adopted all of Zia’s directives outlined in the manifesto that the people endorsed in the February 12 election.
At the same time, he sought overall cooperation from party members to ensure the success of the government.
“The government will do its job. But the government can only succeed when party members support every activity of the government,” he said. “We have 214 MPs in parliament, and 50 cabinet members including myself. But our efforts alone will not make the work successful. We will need everyone’s support. Just as victory came through collective effort in the election, similarly all wings and associate bodies of the party must contribute to the success of the government. Winning the election is not the end of the job. We must continue that hard work. To succeed in the eyes of the people, all party leaders and activists must go to the field and work to implement the manifesto.”
The head of government further said, “This is a political government, meaning a government of a political party that has its own ideology, principles, and a planned manifesto. This plan was presented to the people before the February 12 election. People saw, heard and understood it, and in order to implement it, they voted for the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ and entrusted us with responsibility on the 12th. This manifesto is no longer only of BNP; it belongs to the 52 percent of people who participated in the vote. As a political government, it is our duty to implement it.”
Outlining the government’s development agenda, the Prime Minister said, “We have adopted plans on how to revive industrial expansion in the country, how to create employment opportunities, and how to build our economic foundation, including restarting closed factories. At the same time, we have planned how to introduce new diversification and what new industries we can establish in this country. We have included all these plans in our manifesto.”
Seeking cooperation from all, the Prime Minister said, “You may not be an MP, a minister, or directly connected to the government. You may not be a upazila chairman, union parishad chairman, or even a member. You may simply be a political activist. If you are a political activist, you can help keep the party on the right track through political engagement, and by doing so, you can also support the government.”
The head of government said that Shaheed Ziaur Rahman, through hard work, had placed Bangladesh on such a position in the world that people viewed Shaheed Zia and Bangladesh almost interchangeably. He said Zia brought significant changes to the country through hard work and integrity, and added that the nation must follow his path.
Tarique Rahman also said there is a growing lack of social, religious, and family values in the country. He said instructions have been given to the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Education on how to instill these values among children.
The discussion meeting was chaired by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and conducted by publicity secretary Sultan Salauddin Tuku. Senior party leaders, including Standing Committee members Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Selima Rahman, Professor AZM Zahid Hossain, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Dhaka North Convener Aminul Haque, Dhaka South Member Secretary Tanvir Ahmed Robin, Volunteer Party President SM Zilani, Jubo Dal General Secretary Nurul Islam Nayan, and Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib, also spoke at the event.
Speakers also highlighted various aspects of the life and work of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, including economist Professor Mahbub Ullah, University Grants Commission Chairman Professor Mamun Ahmed, National University Vice-Chancellor Professor Lutfor Rahman, and Open University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dil Rowshan Jinnat Ara Naznin. At the beginning of the event, participants observed one minute of silence in memory of the party founder and offered prayers for the peace of his soul.
