Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday accused some political parties and individuals of attempting to create “anarchy” by exploiting the country’s ongoing power and gas shortages, which he said were inherited by his government.
Calling on all actors to remain within their limits, he said his administration was working to resolve problems inherited from both the previous authoritarian regime and the interim government.
“We are trying to resolve all the problems we have inherited, whether from the authoritarian regime or the interim government,” he said at a discussion meeting marking the BNP’s 48th founding anniversary at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Dhaka.
Tarique acknowledged that people were suffering due to problems in different sectors, particularly energy shortages.
“But we are noticing that some political parties and individuals are trying in different ways to create confusion by exploiting these problems, and through this confusion they are trying to create anarchy in the country,” he said.
The BNP chief said his government remained committed to democracy and democratic values but warned that any attempt to create disorder would be dealt with according to the law.
“If anyone wants to create anarchy, the law of the country clearly sets out how to control such anarchy. Therefore, as a government elected by the people, I want to make it clear that everyone needs to remain within their respective limits,” he said.
The event began with the national anthem, followed by the BNP’s party anthem and a documentary on the party. Participants also observed a one-minute silence in memory of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, former BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and those who sacrificed their lives for the country and the party.
Ziaur Rahman founded the BNP on 1 September 1978. The five-day programme marking the party’s 48th founding anniversary concluded with Saturday’s discussion.
Tarique Rahman said the BNP inherited a fragile economy along with weak health, education and communication sectors after forming the government.
He identified the energy crisis as the country’s most pressing immediate challenge, saying both households and industries were suffering due to shortages of electricity and fuel.
“I apologise on behalf of the party to all those who are suffering from the shortage of electricity and fuel,” he said.
However, he said the government did not want to use inherited problems as excuses.
“We do not want to simply cite these problems as excuses. Rather, we want to present the reality to the people and at the same time take measures so that people do not have to face such problems in the future,” he said.
He said the government had already prepared an action plan to address the energy crisis and make the country more resilient against future global disruptions.
“An action plan requires time to formulate, and implementing it also requires some time,” he said.
Tarique also alleged that a political group had operated secretly during the previous authoritarian regime and that some members of the group later admitted their involvement.
He accused some political forces of attempting to spread confusion, saying such activities could create opportunities for supporters of the ousted regime to return to politics.
“Could it be that those who remained hidden under the authoritarian regime are now, from within that hidden network, trying to incite this anarchy?” he questioned.
“If that is the case, then those who are hiding are actually working to bring that authoritarian regime back to the forefront,” he added.
Calling on BNP leaders and activists as well as nationalist forces, Tarique urged them to make people aware of political developments.
“Let us make the people more aware. Let us expose to the people who is taking responsibility for whom and who is trying to protect whom,” he said.
He alleged that certain political forces had protected one another at different points in Bangladesh’s history.
“This politics must be exposed before the people. We have to make it clear to the people,” he said, referring to what he described as hidden alliances during different periods of the country’s political history.
