Ousted autocrat, opposition join hands to create unrest: PM

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said on Tuesday that the ousted autocrat and the opposition are together hatching conspiracies to create unrest in the country, apparently referring to the Awami League and the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

He made the remarks while addressing a public rally at the historic Madrasah Ground, also known as Haji Muhammad Mohsin Government High School Ground, in Rajshahi in the afternoon.

Referring to their slogan ‘we will work, we will build the country, Bangladesh comes first’, the prime minister said those who do not believe in this slogan have now engaged in conspiracies. “You have surely seen attempts to create labour unrest at some factories in different parts of the country,” he said.

“I want to make one thing clear before this large gathering. We have clear intelligence reports that the authoritarians who fled away are supplying money for these activities. Whom are they helping with this money? There is a party here that spreads misinformation and tried to sell various tickets to people before the election by making false promises. These two sides have joined hands. One is providing money from across the border, while the other is trying to create instability here.” 

Tarique Rahman urged the people to remain alert to the attempts to destabilise the country so that none can create chaos in Bangladesh and obstruct the process of improving the economic condition and fate of the country’s people.

He said the government is working to ensure stability and security, reopen closed factories, make farmers self-reliant, create employment opportunities for workers at home and abroad through skills development, and gradually reduce unemployment.

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The prime minister alleged that some political parties are trying to create disorder on the streets and mislead people, thereby slowing down government initiatives.

He said the BNP government has decided to build barrages on the Teesta and Padma rivers to address water shortages, improve irrigation and support agriculture. “We will build barrages on these two major rivers to address our water problems.” 

On water-sharing issues, Tarique said his government will engage with those responsible (India) for the problem and make every effort to secure Bangladesh's rightful share of water.

“We will try to go as far as necessary to secure the share of water due to the people of Bangladesh. Inshallah, we will try to ensure Bangladesh gets its rightful share.” 

The prime minister also pledged to begin and complete the Padma Barrage and Teesta Barrage projects as quickly as possible.

“Inshallah, we will work to secure our share of water and, at the same time, start and complete the Padma Barrage and Teesta Barrage projects within the shortest possible time,” he said, adding that they will benefit people in around 14 districts, particularly Rajshahi and neighbouring areas.

Referring to criticism of the Family Card initiative before the election, Tarique said some opponents have mocked the initiative after realising that their own election-related “tickets” remained unsold.

He sought public support to implement the government’s various programmes, including Family Card, canal excavation and the reopening of the closed factories.

The prime minister said the government has handed over six closed factories to entrepreneurs and businesspeople to restart operations, with the aim of creating jobs for workers.

The government has also taken an initiative to reopen 46 more closed factories in the country in the next 12 months, from January to December, he said, adding that the government is working to attract local and foreign investment to restart factories, boost exports and create employment opportunities.

About the July warriors, Tarique said the government is working to arrange employment for members of the families of those killed and medical treatment for the injured July fighters.

In an oblique reference to the Jamaat, he alleged that some political forces have misled people since 1971 and have repeatedly attempted to take the country in a different direction whenever they have got the opportunity.

The prime minister urged the people to remain alert to such forces, while asking all nationalist and democratic forces to remain united on the question of the improvement of people’s fortunes.

At the beginning of the rally, Tarique launched a programme to distribute Tk12 crore in incentives among 38,970 sugarcane farmers in the Rajshahi region.

He pressed a button on a computer to transfer the incentive money to the farmers’ mobile accounts and handed over cheques to 15 sugarcane growers.

Tarique Rahman arrived at Shah Makhdum Airport aboard a military aircraft at 2:50pm and went directly to the rally venue. Earlier, he visited Rangpur, where he toured a puja mandap at a temple before heading to Rajshahi.

BNP acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi presided over the rally, while Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury and MPs from Rajshahi district addressed the gathering.