Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter on Saturday said that the interim government assumed the responsibility that comes with the office they hold, not 'power', and would like to see political parties adopt a similar approach when they form government after elections. 

She made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a discussion titled “Mass Aspirations, Mass Uprising: Expectations, Achievements and Review of the Current Situation,” organized by Gana-Akangkha Mancha at the Dhaka Reporters Unity Auditorium in Dhaka. 

Highlighting the need for national harmony, she said, "Divisions based on religious identity are undesirable—we need to unite as humans. Some recent incidents have led India to claim that our minority Hindu community is being persecuted. But we are not afraid of such propaganda, because the change we wanted to bring, our children have brought it. India could not stop our mass uprising.”

Looking forward to next year with hopes for a better Bangladesh: Foreign Secretary

"Our youth have successfully expelled fascist forces through a mass movements, achieving what no political party could," she also said.

The adviser mentioned that protecting the sovereignty of Bangladesh is a shared responsibility  of every citizen, not just for the armed forces.

Paying homage to the mothers of martyrs, she said, "In exchange for the blood of the children, we have achieved a new Bangladesh. It is heartbreaking that the list of martyrs continues to grow." 

She also expressed the government’s commitment to expanding the agricultural sector, urging stakeholders to prioritize increased local production alongside imports. "Farmers must be included in statistical evaluations, not just agricultural products," she added. 

‘Fighting my own shadow,’ says energy adviser about bureaucratic challenges

Speakers at the event underscored the need to ensure constitutional reforms that protect the rights and dignity of students, workers, farmers and the general public. They stressed the importance of drafting a constitution that reflects the principles of equality and justice. 

The event was chaired by Abdul Majid Antar, convener of Gana-Akanksha Mancha and attended by key figures, including State Reform Movement Chief Coordinator Advocate Hasnat Qayyum, Dhaka University Associate Professor Dr  Samina Lutfa, Bangladesh Press Institute Director General Faruk Wasif and Rajshahi University Associate Professor Dr Golam Sarwar.