Fisheries and Livestock Minister Md Abdur Rahman on Friday said no one can go to power by carrying out arson and anarchy as the election is the only way to change power.

“If anyone dreams of coming to power through anarchy and arson in Bangladesh, then that dream will be a daydream (fantasy). The election is the only way to power,” he said while addressing a meeting at Boalmari in Faridpur.

Boalmari Upazila Awami League arranged the special extended meeting on the occasion of the national mourning day.

Abdur Rahman, also an AL presidium member, said if anyone wants to go to power, they will have to participate in the next 2029 general election. But no one can come to power by burning metro rail, Padma Bridge and Setu Bhaban, and destroying the government establishments.

He said the 1971 defeated forces destroyed state establishments using the students in the banner of the quota movement.

“It is not the quota movement, but their issue was the movement for the government's fall. They wanted to oust the government. They wanted to grab power through anarchy, using the students as shields and infiltrating the movement,” he added.

The old forces, who had received defeat in 1971, wanted to seize power in a new way, he said, asking AL local activists and leaders from district level to ward level to stay united to resist the movement.

Earlier, the Fisheries Minister released fish fries in several ponds and water bodies in the upazila as amid the National Fisheries Week 2024 is being celebrated from July 30 to August 5, said a press release.