Prime Minister Tarique Rahman urged the country’s people to remain alert against those spreading confusion and creating disorder over the referendum and the July Charter, warning that some individuals and political parties are trying to serve their own political interests at the expense of the nation.
The prime minister made the remark while addressing a brief gathering at noon after launching the re-excavation work of the historic Ulashi Canal in Sharsha upazila on Monday.
“Some individuals and political parties are now trying to divert the referendum in a different direction and creating disorder by misleading the country’s people,” the prime minister said.
He added, “Everyone must remain alert about those who are trying to divert the verdict of the referendum in a different direction and representing the July Charter in a wrong way for their own political interests.”
Tarique Rahman warned that if those elements succeed in creating chaos for their own political gain, the government’s various pro-people programmes would be disrupted. These include the Family Card for women, Farmer Card for farmers, canal excavation work, employment initiatives for unemployed youth, reopening closed mills and factories, healthcare delivery to villages, and tree plantation programmes.
“The people themselves must play a responsible role so that the country’s progress is not hindered,” he said.
“The July Charter signed by political parties will be fully implemented step by step,” the prime minister said, adding, “The people have already proven that they do not accept any attempt to ignore their will. Just as the people gave an appropriate response on 5 August, they will respond in the same way in the future if anyone tries to play with their fate.”
Earlier, the prime minister formally inaugurated the re-excavation programme by cutting soil with a spade around 11:55 am and planted a sapling on the canal bank. He unveiled the plaque and offered prayers.
Health Minister Md Sakhawat Hossain, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Ministers Forhad Hossain Azad, Mir Shahe Alam and Aninda Islam Amit were also at the time.
The nearly 4-kilometer-long canal, originally excavated by former president Ziaur Rahman in 1976 through voluntary labour and known as “Zia Khal”, is being re-excavated by the Bangladesh Water Development Board.
