United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday warned party leaders and activists that a difficult and important time lies ahead, and called for their support in implementing the party’s election manifesto to make the government successful. “I would like to tell everyone that a very difficult time lies ahead of us. At the same time, a very important period awaits us. If we let this crucial and challenging time pass lightly, it will cause a great loss,” he said while addressing a discussion. The Prime Minister said the loss will not be for any individual but for the country and future generations. “So, let us work together to build the country in the way Shaheed Zia wanted and move it forward along the path he envisioned. We must run the country in line with that vision,” he added. BNP organised the discussion programme at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh auditorium in the capital’s Farmgate area, marking the 45th death anniversary of party founder and former President Ziaur Rahman. Tarique Rahman said Ziaur Rahman wanted to make Bangladesh self-reliant by gradually developing every sector of the country, and the BNP’s election manifesto reflects that vision. He said the people gave their verdict in favour of the party’s manifesto in the February 12 election and it is now the responsibility of the government to implement those. The Prime Minister said government programmes will not succeed through the efforts of the ruling party MPs and the cabinet members alone. “Our 214 MPs and 50 cabinet members, including myself, cannot make these programmes successful through our efforts alone. We need the support of all of you,” he said. “The government can succeed only when party workers support every positive initiative, and help implement programmes at the grassroots level.”

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday started distributing clothes and food items among poor and destitute people as part of programmes marking the 45th death anniversary of BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman. The distribution programme began around 11:30am on the Rajdhani High School premises on Manik Mia Avenue in the capital. The event marked the start of day-long programmes featuring the distribution of clothes, essential goods and free healthcare services for poor and destitute people on the occasion of Ziaur Rahman’s death anniversary. Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) Administrator Safiqul Islam Khan and former councillor Anwaruzzaman, among others, were present.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Saturday said former President and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman brought an unprecedented change to Bangladesh within just three and a half years of his rule. “On one hand, he reintroduced multiparty democracy and brought the country back from one-party rule and BAKSAL. On the other hand, he introduced a free-market economy. I believe this was the first phase of Bangladesh’s transformation,” Fakhrul said. “In just three and a half years, he brought such an extraordinary change that Bangladesh, once labelled a ‘bottomless basket’, turned into a country moving towards prosperity,” he added. Fakhrul, also local government, rural development and co-operatives minister, made the remarks after paying tribute to former President Ziaur Rahman at his grave at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on the occasion of his 45th death anniversary. Describing Ziaur Rahman as the proclaimer of Bangladesh’s independence, a pioneer and reintroducer of multiparty democracy and the architect of modern Bangladesh, he said BNP could not properly observe the day for nearly 17 years due to what he termed fascist repression. “I still remember that when we came here once, many of our leaders were injured in police firing. Today, we are observing the day in a free environment,” the BNP leader said. He said Ziaur Rahman tried to transform the country’s old and decaying system after being elected to state leadership through a democratic process. Fakhrul said Ziaur Rahman had rescued the country from the aftermath of the 1974 famine and economic mismanagement and led Bangladesh towards food surplus and increased agricultural production. “That period was a time of transformation for our society and country, and he provided the leadership for that change by uniting the people,” he said. Referring to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as Zia’s worthy successor, the BNP secretary general said the government has already launched programmes aimed at reforms and production growth. “We have started reform initiatives and production-oriented programmes. Family Card, Farmers’ Card and other initiatives have already created a new momentum in Bangladesh,” he said.

The BNP will distribute food items and clothes among poor and destitute people at 16 locations across the capital on May 30, marking the 45th death anniversary of party founder and former President Ziaur Rahman, with BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman set to attend all the programmes as the chief guest. BNP Media Cell member Shayrul Kabir Khan told UNB on Tuesday that Tarique Rahman will distribute food items and clothes at the designated spots on the day. He said Dhaka North and South city units of BNP will organise the programmes in 15 constituencies of Dhaka and in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office. Ministers, MPs and leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies will remain present at the locations. Lawyers of the Supreme Court are also expected to arrange similar programmes this year. Earlier, BNP announced an eight-day programme from May 25 to June 1, marking the 45th death anniversary of Ziaur Rahman. As part of the programmes, at 6:00am on May 30, party flags will be kept at half-mast and black flags will be hoisted at the BNP central office and other party offices across the country. At 11:00am on the same day, Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, along with party leaders and activists, will place wreaths at the grave of Ziaur Rahman and offer prayers there. After visiting the grave, they will participate in a doa mahfil to be organised by Jatiyatabadi Ulema Dal on the mausoleum premises. As part of the observance, a discussion will be held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium at 2:00pm on May 31.