Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee on Sunday said Bangladesh must restore an atmosphere of communal harmony, peace and goodwill, stressing that the country’s future should be built through peaceful means rather than a politics of enforced disappearances and killings.
“If we want to reach our goal of building a new Bangladesh, we cannot spend our entire lives in processions and meetings while the politics of enforced disappearances and killings continues,” he said.
The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at a discussion and cultural programme marking the 157th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the International Day of Non-Violence.
Anee stressed that politicians should not spend their entire lives relying on processions, meetings, programmes and political movements, but should also focus on building and developing the country.
He said public expectations of the BNP-led government had risen significantly since August 5, and the party must work to fulfil them.
“As a political activist and on behalf of our political party, our responsibility is to work with all of you to build a new Bangladesh peacefully under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Let this be our resolve, our desire and our commitment,” he said.
He said Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership in promoting peace, communal harmony and non-violent movements, particularly during the communal riots in Greater Noakhali in 1946, had inspired his interest in learning more about the Indian independence leader.
Reflecting on the BNP’S political struggles of recent years, Anee said the movement for change had often required considerable time and effort.
He recalled that during visits to different districts, some responsible party leaders had questioned whether following a Gandhian approach to political movements would take too long.
“We said yes, it would take time, but we wanted that time to produce results without causing harm to anyone,” he said, adding that they had remained mindful of this approach in the presence of late BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
He said he saw similarities between Gandhi’s movement and their own political struggle.
Anee said one of his aspirations was to expand the Gandhi Ashram in Greater Noakhali and promote it internationally, strengthening the region’s historical legacy.
He added that he would be willing to share responsibility for turning that aspiration into reality.