Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee has questioned the opposition’s decision to hold a long march over problems in the oil, gas and electricity sectors. He said the opposition’s long march poses a threat to democracy.
Anee said the longstanding issues could not be solved overnight and required collective efforts.
Referring to remarks by Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman in parliament, on Saturday Anee said the opposition leader himself had acknowledged that the problems involving oil, gas and electricity had persisted for years and needed to be resolved collectively.
“If that is the case, why hold a long march outside parliament?” he asked.
Anee said rebuilding the country was not possible for the opposition or the government alone and required cooperation between both sides.
“The country has to be rebuilt together by the ruling party and the opposition. The government must be given an opportunity. Only then will it be possible to rebuild the country,” he said.
The minister said his party had also staged movements, rallies and public meetings against what he described as fascism, but had not begun its movement with long marches.
He criticised the opposition for making what he described as constructive remarks in parliament while organising long marches outside.
“This is not a fascist government, nor is this an opposition nurtured by a fascist government. We are all elected, and everyone must remember that,” Anee said.
He urged political parties to remain vigilant so that their actions did not create an opportunity for what he described as fascism to return.
Bangladesh Football Federation Vice-President Wahid Uddin Chowdhury Happy, Professor Nani Gopal Ghosh, Prof Md Yousuf, BNP leader Abul Hasem, Jamaat leader Maulana Faruk Hossain Noor Nabi and Mohammad Abdullah, among others, were present there.
