Prime Minister Tariq Rahman said that in the last 17 years, various sectors including democracy, economy, education, health, judicial system and electoral system have been damaged and the current government has got the responsibility of managing the country through a devastated state.
He said these things while addressing the chief guest at a discussion meeting organized on the occasion of the 45th martyrdom anniversary of the founder of BNP, Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, at the Krishibid Institute of Khamarbari in the capital on Sunday (May 31). BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presided over the event.
Referring to the leadership of martyred President Ziaur Rahman, the Prime Minister said, “Through hard work, honesty, discipline – everything, he was able to bring about many changes in the country in a very short time.”
He said, “Your party was able to form the government after the last 12th election. But you are the living witness of what has happened in the last 17 years; every person present here. How democracy was destroyed, how the country's economy was destroyed, how the country's education, health, judicial system, electoral system – everything was destroyed, you are more or less the living witness of every person present here. Those who are connected online here, every person. Apart from political party members, ordinary people, Every person, including the working people, is a living witness of the country.”
He also said, “The current government has got the responsibility of running the country through such a devastated situation.”
Talking about people's expectations, Tariq Rahman said, “People expect from the one from whom they can get something. There is a saying that, which tree do people hit? Mango tree, litchi tree, jam tree. The tree that has fruit, that is, the one that can give.”
He said, “The expectations of the people of Bangladesh are also with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. The party which was formed by the martyred President Ziaur Rahman, the party which was founded within the people by the country's leader Begum Khaleda Zia – people expect from that party.”
Regarding future challenges, the Prime Minister said, “To all of them, I would say that first of all, a very difficult time awaits us. At the same time, a very important time awaits us. At this time, in this important and difficult time, if we laugh and walk away, then a great loss will be done. Who will be harmed? Maybe not yours. The harm will be to the country. The harm will be to your future generation. That is, the future generation is yours. The legacy is theirs.”
Referring to the political commitment of the current government, the Prime Minister said, “The current government is a political government. That is, a political party that has policies. The current government is a government, that is, a political party that has policies, that has ideals, that has a plan or manifesto. The plan or manifesto that we presented to the people of the country before the 12th election.”
He said, “The people of the country have seen, heard, understood this manifesto or plan and on the 12th they voted on the grain of rice according to their decision and gave the responsibility to the grain of rice to implement that plan.”
Regarding the election results, Tariq Rahman said, “Since the manifesto was the plan of the BNP or the Bangladesh Nationalist Party until the 12th, this manifesto was the manifesto of the BNP or the Bangladesh Nationalist Party until the 12th. But from the morning of the 13th, when we got to know the verdict of the people of Bangladesh, when 151 passed, it was understood that the people of Bangladesh gave a two-thirds majority in favor of this plan, in favor of this manifesto.”
He said, “That is, this manifesto or this plan is no longer only of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Rather, this manifesto or this plan belongs to the people, who voted for it. 52 percent of the people who participated in the vote, 52 percent of the people—this is their manifesto, this is their plan. As a political party government, we must follow it. We must implement it.”
Pointing out that Shahid Zia's philosophy of development is reflected in the current manifesto, he said, “Among these plans, we have heard about Shahid Zia's canal digging program. Our plan, manifesto has this plan. We have heard here while discussing about Shahid Zia, how Shahid Zia expanded education. He wanted to convey the light of education, he wanted to educate the nation. It is exactly his reflection that education is in our manifesto.”
He said, “The speakers here discussed how the garment industry, the garment industry that we are proud of, the garment industry that is helping us earn one of the foreign exchange, how the foundation stone of the garment industry was laid during Shaheed Zia's time. In the same way, i.e. industrial revolution – we have reflected that in our manifesto. That is, how to expand the industry in our country, how to create employment, how we can build our economic base. Like closed Starting the factories – we have taken that plan. In the same way we have planned how to do new diversification, what kind of industry we can build in this country. We have put those plans in our manifesto.”
Regarding the empowerment of women, the Prime Minister said, “We have seen how Martyr President Ziaur Rahman and Begum Khaleda Zia brought up the issue of the Ministry of Women's Affairs, in Dr. Zahid's speech here. We have included a family card issue in our manifesto to empower women.”
Addressing the party leaders and workers, he said, “The government can be successful only when you as the workers of this party continue to support every right activity of the government. Correctly, you continue to support the right work. Only then is it possible for this government to succeed.”
He added, “We have MPs, 50 of us—including me—cabinet members. We will not be successful if we work hard. We will need all of your help.”
The Prime Minister said, “As you have been able to win this party through tireless work before the 12th election, the work is not over after winning. Rather, we have to continue that tireless work again now. Just as we have won through an election, we have to be a successful government by making our tasks, our goals successful.”
He said, “Let us all try together, by implementing the manifesto that the people of Bangladesh have voted for, we can complete the functioning of a successful government. Only then, I believe, we will be able to show full respect to Shahid Zia on May 30. Let us—that is our oath on the first death anniversary or martyrdom anniversary of Shahid Zia after forming the government. Let this be our pledge today.”
BNP Standing Committee members, senior leaders and leaders and activists of various organs and allied organizations were present in the discussion meeting.
