Dhaka //

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman warned that defeated fascist forces could exploit any rifts arising among democratic forces. He stated, “In a democracy, there will be differences of opinion and political competition—that is the nature of democratic practice. However, everyone must remain vigilant to ensure that dissent does not devolve into hostility.”

The Leader of the House further remarked that if political divisions and conflicts among democratic forces reach a point where defeated fascist elements find an opportunity to resurge, it would pose a grave threat to democracy. Therefore, she urged everyone—regardless of party affiliation—to move forward with responsible political conduct and mutual tolerance, prioritizing the goal of “Bangladesh First, Bangladesh for All.”

The Prime Minister made these remarks on Thursday night (September 10) during her concluding speech at the third session of the 13th National Parliament. Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed presided over the session.

In her address, the Prime Minister highlighted various government initiatives, including measures to resolve the ongoing gas and electricity crisis, efforts to keep the National Parliament at the center of problem-solving, and steps to reduce the volume of defaulted loans. The Leader of the House also spoke of the need to work alongside the opposition to resolve national crises. She criticized the opposition’s recent long-march as well.

The Prime Minister remarked that if the gas and electricity crisis could be solved through a vehicle-based long-march, the government itself would have organized one first. She urged everyone to pursue effective solutions rather than inciting the public while addressing national crises.

Describing the gas and electricity crisis as a national issue and emphasizing the need to tackle it in cooperation with the opposition, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that the government has already taken various initiatives to alleviate public suffering and that the crisis can be resolved over time. She noted that the current crisis did not emerge overnight; for a long period, adequate measures were not taken to extract gas from domestic sources. Furthermore, the situation was complicated by the outbreak of war in the Middle East—affecting an import-dependent energy system—and an accident at one of the country’s LNG terminals. She affirmed that the government does not wish to evade the issue of public hardship by offering excuses. Effective measures are being taken, taking into account the reality of the crisis.

Tarique Rahman stated that the gas and electricity crisis is not merely the government’s problem; it is a national issue. It is the responsibility of every Member of Parliament—from both the ruling and opposition parties—to present an accurate picture of the situation to the public and play a responsible role in addressing the crisis. He noted that the opposition is also an integral part of the government; therefore, the aim is to lead the country and the nation out of the current energy crisis by working alongside opposition colleagues.

Highlighting plans for solar power generation in the context of future energy security, the Prime Minister remarked that Bangladesh is not just a consumer of electricity but could also become a producer of solar power in the future.

Tarique Rahman stated that the government intends to establish the National Parliament as the focal point for all national discussions and the resolution of national issues. He observed that both the government and the opposition are working in the interest of the country and its people, and that everyone shares the responsibility of keeping the Parliament effective and vibrant. The public expects that parliamentary deliberations will lead to at least some resolution of their problems and that this Parliament will usher in peace and prosperity for the nation.

The Prime Minister noted that the political parties participating in the February 12 election had presented their election manifestos to the public. The people delivered a verdict in favor of the BNP’s manifesto and simultaneously entrusted it with the responsibility of governing the country. In an effective parliamentary political system, the opposition is also considered part of the government; thus, the government seeks to work for the welfare of the country and its people in collaboration with the opposition.

Addressing the existing crises across various sectors upon assuming the responsibility of state governance, the Prime Minister noted that mountains of corruption and irregularities had accumulated in almost every sector—including gas, electricity, industry, education, and banking. Although the government inherited these problems, it does not wish to use them as excuses; instead, the focus is on formulating and implementing plans to resolve them.

Regarding the country’s economic situation, the Prime Minister stated that the current government encountered a fragile state of affairs in various sectors upon taking office. There were numerous issues within the banking system, education, healthcare, administration, and law and order. The government is actively working to address these challenges. She emphasized that the government does not intend to cite past failures as excuses for governance issues; rather, its goal is to ensure peace, prosperity, and security in the lives of the people.

Speaking on the issue of loan defaults, Tareq Rahman noted that the BNP now faces another major responsibility: liberating the country from the burden of defaulted loans inherited from the past. He mentioned that a subsequent forensic audit revealed the actual figure of defaulted loans to be higher than what was initially reported for 2024. He also informed Parliament that the ratio of defaulted loans has begun to decline due to various government initiatives.

The Prime Minister also spoke about freedom of speech and political culture in Parliament. She stated that a democratic environment currently prevails in the country, and freedom of speech exists. However, everyone must ensure that freedom of speech does not cross the line into indecency. Tareq Rahman remarked that no conscientious person desires the return of fascist or authoritarian rule to the country. Similarly, it must be ensured that political culture does not devolve into the use of abusive language. Words that people would feel uncomfortable using in a family setting should also be avoided in the public sphere.

Paying tribute to those who made sacrifices for the establishment of democracy, the Prime Minister recalled that hundreds of thousands of people laid down their lives in the movements to restore independence and democracy. Many also lost their lives, while others were injured or suffered harm, during the mass uprising of 2024. She affirmed that it is the sacred duty of all to repay the debt owed to the martyrs’ blood by establishing justice and good governance.

Stay connected with the news and share your opinions.