Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has called upon the people to remain alert against misinformation and attempts to create confusion, stressing that Bangladesh must move forward with stability, economic self-reliance and people-centred development.
“There are many misinformation spreaders and rumour-mongers in the country. We have to remain alert about them. We have to see what they did in the past and, considering their past, keep them under close watch and monitor what they are doing for the future,” he said.
The Prime Minister made the remarks while addressing a function at the old Kishoreganj Stadium to distribute Family Cards and allowances among religious leaders and provide financial assistance to distressed and physically challenged people.
He distributed Family Cards among women, allowances among imams, muezzins, priests, monks and other religious personalities, as well as financial assistance cheques among distressed and physically challenged people. He also handed over a job appointment letter to a person with disabilities.
Regarding misinformation, Tarique Rahman said the country must remain stable and people should not be misled by those spreading confusion.
“If misinformation spreaders try to mislead people, we have to give them an appropriate response as we did in the past,” he said.
Referring to the roles of different groups during various political crises, the Prime Minister said their past activities should be considered when assessing their present activities.
He said BNP leaders and activists and those of its allied parties had faced enforced disappearance, killings, torture and repression during the 17-year democratic movement.
Commenting on recent discussions about reforms, Tarique Rahman said some people who remained absent from the streets during the movement were now making “big statements” in the name of reforms and spreading confusion.
“BNP first placed a roadmap for state reforms before the people in 2022. Even before that, the first proposal for reforms was prepared under the leadership of Begum Khaleda Zia,” he said.
Turning to the government’s welfare priorities, the Prime Minister said effective implementation of the Family Card and Farmer Card programmes, allowances for imams and muezzins, and initiatives to develop future generations as responsible citizens must be accelerated.
He also reiterated the government’s commitment to modernising agriculture and creating employment opportunities for young people by establishing new mills, factories and industrial enterprises.
“Unless we put people at the centre and properly prepare them, we cannot take the country forward. No matter how big our slogans are, if we cannot make people self-reliant and ensure economic self-reliance for every citizen, we will never be able to build the country,” he said.
Tarique Rahman said the government’s main goal is to build Bangladesh as a self-reliant and welfare-oriented state rather than simply following the model of another country.
“We want to build such a Bangladesh where every section of society will receive from the state the dignity and support they deserve according to their needs and capabilities,” he added.
Highlighting the role of women in national development, the Prime Minister said women constitute half of the country’s population and no nation can move forward by leaving them behind.
He described the Family Card as a “groundbreaking” initiative to make women self-reliant and empowered while providing families with a stronger economic foundation.
The government is also providing opportunities for women to study free of cost up to the graduate level, along with support for those achieving good academic results, he said.
Referring to initiatives for farmers, Tarique Rahman said ensuring their economic self-reliance remains a priority.
“That is why the Farmer Card has been introduced. Agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000, including interest, have already been waived, directly benefiting 13 lakh farmers,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the government also plans to excavate 250 kilometres of canals across the country to improve irrigation facilities and address water shortages.
Outlining a new approach to education and youth development, he said students would be developed as complete human beings with skills in sports, cultural activities and languages alongside formal academic qualifications.
He also announced that the “Notun Kuri” competition, introduced during the tenure of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, would be revived to provide opportunities to nurture talent and creativity.
“Opportunities are being created in every field to ensure the proper development of talent and potential,” he said.
Tarique Rahman said the government is providing social allowances to imams, muezzins, khatibs and religious leaders of other faiths to help them remain self-reliant as guides of society.
“Besides, state assistance continues for disadvantaged people, persons with disabilities and meritorious students,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the current government had resolved the retirement benefit complications of 123,000 teachers who had been deprived of their dues during the previous regime and completed the payment process.
He said BNP practised politics aimed at changing the fortunes of the people.
“BNP’s politics is about creating employment, supporting education, helping farmers increase their production and establishing mills and factories. This is BNP’s politics,” he said.
The Prime Minister said every pledge made before the election is being implemented gradually and people are witnessing the country’s development journey.
“Our goal is to work for the country and for the people and to change their fortunes. Only by changing the fortunes of the people can we change the fortunes of the country,” he said.
The programme was chaired by Social Welfare Minister Professor AZM Zahid Hossain and addressed by State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam, lawmakers Fazlur Rahman, Mazharul Islam and Jalal Uddin.
