Independent lawmaker Rumeen Farhana has criticised the government over gas and electricity shortages, law and order, inflation and employment during a parliamentary session on Thursday.
Taking part in the discussion at the Jatiya Sangsad, the Brahmanbaria-2 MP took a swipe at the power situation, saying, “Some mischievous people say Tuku comes, Tuku goes.”
Referring to the energy crisis, she said, “Honourable Speaker, what more can I say about energy? Regarding gas and electricity, mischievous people say Tuku comes, Tuku goes. He comes and goes, and they cannot even say how long he stays.”
Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku is currently in charge of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.
Rumeen said while fuel prices were increasing, people were struggling with electricity shortages and gas supply problems.
She also criticised the government over the law and order situation, saying controlling crime, keeping prices stable and ensuring energy security should have been among its priorities.
“Talking about law and order is difficult because the home minister either turns the issue around through sarcasm or clever remarks,” she said.
Rumeen said speaking directly with ordinary people would reveal the real situation regarding law and order in the country.
Taking another jibe, she said, “Just as Bangladesh has three foreign ministers, it would not be a bad idea to have 64 home ministers for law and order in 64 districts. The law and order situation in Bangladesh is apparently that good.”
On the government’s pledge to create one crore new jobs, Rumeen said 62,000 people had lost their jobs and more than 900 factories had shut down since the government took office.
“Will new employment be created? God knows how long those who still have jobs will be able to keep them,” she said.
Rumeen also raised concerns over rising living costs, saying vegetables were not available below Tk80 per kg in the market. She said prices of eggs and miniket rice had also increased, while long queues were being seen for Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) products.
She urged the government to take effective measures to control inflation and reduce the burden of living costs on ordinary people.
