Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday announced that the government will introduce LPG cards for women to ease cooking-related hardship and address gas shortages.
He made the announcement while taking part in a canal excavation programme in Ulashi of Sharsha upazila in Jashore.
He said “The initiative aims to reduce the suffering of mothers and sisters in cooking, both in rural and urban areas.”
“We are providing family cards to mothers across the country. In the same way, we now want to introduce another initiative — LPG cards. LPG gas will be delivered to mothers so they do not have to suffer in cooking” Tarique said.
He added that, as per the election pledge, family cards will be delivered to all villages within the next five years.
“We promised before the election that we would excavate canals, and we have kept our word,” he said.
“We also promised family cards for women’s empowerment. Inshallah, within five years we will try to deliver family cards to mothers in every village of the country.”
The Prime Minister said “Women’s education up to degree level will be provided free of cost to promote female education.”
He also said that the government will deliver on every promise “word for word”.
He said the LPG card system is being introduced to ease cooking difficulties for women, adding that BNP’s politics is about ensuring people’s welfare.
He further noted “Water in the Ulashi canal of Sharsha will directly benefit around 72,000 people.”
Earlier in the day, he inaugurated the re-excavation of the Ulashi-Jadunathpur canal, which is linked to late president Ziaur Rahman.
He arrived at Jashore Airport at around 10:15am after departing Dhaka at 9:50am on a flight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
According to the Prime Minister’s Press Wing, his schedule included inaugurating development projects, laying foundation stones and attending a public rally.
After arriving in Jashore, he travelled by bus to Sharsha to inaugurate the Ulashi canal re-excavation project and joined a public meeting at the site.
Later, he is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of Jashore Medical College Hospital after a short break at Jashore Circuit House, followed by a public rally at Jashore Central Eidgah Ground.
He is expected to return to Dhaka in the evening.
This is his first visit to Jashore since assuming office as Prime Minister after the 13th national parliamentary election, and his second visit in the last three months.
He last visited Jashore on February 2, when he attended a large election rally at Jashore Upashahar Degree College Ground as BNP chairperson.
He also said “Students and the public movement had forced the autocratic regime to flee, and now it is time for nation-building.”
He added many closed factories will be reopened within the next two to four months.
He urged local people to participate voluntarily in canal excavation work and called on all to remain alert so that no one can disrupt public programmes.
He also instructed the speedy rehabilitation of evicted street hawkers.
Prime Minister mentions looted public money will be returned to the people, adding that anyone who plays with the fate of the people will face a response like 5 August.
He reiterated that the government will strictly implement all public promises.
