Those who did not vote, this government is theirs too: Tarique Rahman

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman has said that no one is facing discrimination while BNP is in power.

He said, "The current government wants to be a government of all the people of the country—of those who voted, and of those who did not vote."

He said this on Tuesday while visiting the puja mandap at the historic Dharmasabha (Radha Gobinda Temple) in Rangpur. He also called for building a peaceful, prosperous, and desired Bangladesh by taking people of all religions together.

In his words, it is the government's responsibility to work for the people of all areas and to maintain balance in development activities while considering the country's economic capacity.

During the Durga Puja, he has been visiting Rangpur, Rajshahi, and Chattogram on Tuesday to exchange greetings with followers of the Sanatan religion. Leaving Dhaka in the morning, he reached Rangpur via Saidpur after holding several roadside meetings.

When he arrived at the puja mandap of the Dharmasabha temple, he was welcomed by Bhabtosh Sarkar Bachchu, president of the temple committee; Khokon Sarkar, general secretary; Ramjiban Kunda, president of the Rangpur district branch of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad; Prashanta Kumar Roy, general secretary of the metropolitan branch; and Palash Kanti Nag, member-secretary of the metropolitan citizens' committee.

He exchanged greetings with the devotees present at the mandap and waved to members of the Hindu community. At the request of the devotees, he also took selfies with them.

Speaking at a greetings ceremony held at the temple, he said that people of all religions, beliefs, and classes and professions have collectively played a role in every important chapter—Bangladesh's independence, the establishment of democratic rights, and the recent mass uprising. He said the future Bangladesh must be built by maintaining the continuity of this unity.

He spoke about the participation of people of all religions and classes and professions together in various democratic movements since the 1971 Liberation War and in the 2024 mass uprising.

"This country has been moving forward for thousands of years with people of all religions. We all live together in peace. We want that in the next thousand years too, we can live together in peace," he said.

He called on everyone to work collectively to ensure education, healthcare, and employment opportunities for the people of the country, as well as to maintain peace and order.

He said that an initiative has already been taken to allocate about Tk 1,800 crore for the development of Rangpur city.

He highlighted plans to develop the necessary infrastructure for people at the district council, upazila, and union levels through the local government system. He also spoke about the government's efforts to deliver state facilities and services to people by building necessary infrastructure, including bridges and culverts and educational institutions, at the village and local levels.
"Everyone must work together to implement these initiatives and move forward for the country's development, forgetting mutual differences," the Prime Minister urged.

He said the government wants to build national unity by taking everyone along, but in recent times a certain quarter has been trying to spread confusion. In the past too, attempts were made to question Bangladesh's great Liberation War, which did not end well.

"If anyone has any statement or demand, it can be presented and discussed in Parliament," he said.

The Prime Minister advised everyone to ensure that people's daily lives, children's education, healthcare, business and trade, and employment are not disrupted because of political differences.

He said the government is working to bring change in past political practices, but the people are the biggest force in implementing that change. For this, it is necessary to move forward with the people.

The Prime Minister directed the concerned state minister to review the possibility of financial assistance for constructing a hostel-like structure behind the Radha Gobinda Temple.

At the event, temple committee president Bhabtosh Sarkar Bachchu and general secretary Khokon Sarkar presented a crest to the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister gave a cheque of Tk 10 lakh to the temple authorities.

The event, conducted by State Minister for Local Government and Rural Development Mir Shahe Alam, was addressed by BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Bijon Kanti Sarkar, BNP Assistant Organizing Secretary Jayanta Kumar Kunda, MPs Mahbubur Rahman Belal and Nipun Roy Chowdhury, and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader Partha Dev and Ganesh Chandra Roy Shahas.

Minister of Women and Children Affairs A Z M Zahid Hossain, Minister of Disaster Management and Relief Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister of Women and Children Affairs Farzana Sharmin, and Prime Minister's Advisor Rehan Asif Asad were present at the event.

The Prime Minister left Tejgaon Airport in Dhaka at 9 am on an Air Force aircraft for Saidpur. On arrival at Saidpur Airport, he was welcomed by Minister of Disaster Management and Relief Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister of Water Resources Farhad Hossain Azad, Administrator of Rangpur City Corporation Mahfuz Un Nabi Chowdhury Don, Chairman of Rangpur Development Authority Shamsuzzaman Samu, Divisional Commissioner Jahangir Alam, DIG Aminul Islam, Deputy Commissioner Ishrat Jahan, and Superintendent of Police Mohammad Mozammel Haque.

After the formalities at the airport, the Prime Minister traveled by road toward Rangpur. On the way, he spoke at two roadside meetings organized at Taraganj and Paglapir. A large number of BNP leaders and activists took positions on both sides of the road to welcome him. The Prime Minister waved and greeted them from his motorcade.

At the roadside meetings, the Prime Minister said the people had given BNP the responsibility of running the country through elections. Since taking office, the government has been trying to stand by working people. The government wants to work to improve the living standards of people from various classes and professions in society.

This was Tarique Rahman's first visit to Rangpur after becoming Prime Minister by winning the 13th National Parliamentary Election. After completing his programs in Rangpur, he will be visiting Rajshahi and Cattogram, simultaneously.