DHAKA, Nov 16, 2024 (BSS)- Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today criticized the past Awami League government for taking many unwise mega projects saying those projects, taken in the name of development, was not the real picture of country’s progress.

“During the regime of fallen autocrat, we saw some megaprojects were taken in the name of development. But, it was not the real picture of development,” he said.

Every misdeeds of AL government in the field of economy and politics is being exposed one after another, he said.

Tarique Rahman was addressing virtually the concluding session of the 3rd National Council of the Jatiyatabadi Textile Engineers’ Association at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) here.

“Bangladesh is a glaring example how an economy becomes unhealthy,” Tarique Rahman said adding that “If a country’s politics become sick, its economy must be sick.”

Awami League government has made the country dependent on import and loan, he said.
 
Tarique Rahman said the autocrat fled the country after brutally killing 2000 people and injuring around 30,000 others during the students-led mass uprising in July-August.

Among the injured, many people lost their eyes and many others became crippled, he said.

He underscored the need for giving priority to ensure treatment to the July uprising.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir spoke as the special guest while, party’s standing committee members Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Vice-Chairmen Zainul Abdin Farroque, Shamsuzzaman Dudu and Nitai Roy Chowdhury, BNP Chairperson’s Advisers Abdus Salam and Dr Farhad Halim Donar, among others, addressed the programme with Jatiyatabadi Textile Engineers Association of Bangladesh President Fakhrul Alam in the chair.

BNP acting chairman urged the interim government to take effective measures to control the prices of essentials to lessen the sufferings of the people considering it as priority work.

He said the interim government took the responsibility of a ravaged country following the ouster of Sheikh Hasina’s regime.

“It is not possible to remove all the rubbles created by the mafia government in only three months,” he added.

Tarique Rahman said the allies and beneficiaries of the dictator are hatching conspiracies in various ways at home and abroad to foil the interim government.

He said if the interim government maintains relations of trust with the people, the conspirators will not get any chance.

He said BNP is making specific plans for making the garments and textile sectors more profitable and creating demands for these two sectors in the global market.

BNP is also considering increasing the production of goods by boosting domestic and foreign investments in small and medium enterprises, especially in the SME sector, he said.

Regarding the 31-point programme of BNP, Tarique Rahman said: “We think that these 31 points are a historical charter for the development of future Bangladesh."

In the implementation of these 31 points, emphasis was put on quality and technical education, he said.

“We think that population is not a curse but if this population can be converted into human resources then it is a great strength for the development of the country,” he said.

The BNP acting chairman said shortage of skilled workers in various countries of the world is being noticed.

“If we can make this population skilled then the demand of our labor force in the global market will also be increased,” he said.

Tarique Rahman said that democracy cannot be ensured if political and economic power is not ensured, and voting right is the main tool of political empowerment.

He reiterated his call to the interim government to hold a neutral and fair election to strengthen the bond of trust of the people with the government.

Tarique Rahman said the interim government has taken initiative to reconstitute the Election Commission. “The people expect they will be able to exercise their voting rights in a neutral and transparent environment,” he said.

 BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the interim government is working on reforms for a fair and impartial election and BNP supports the government efforts.

He demanded elections through making necessary reform work.  “We will have to work staying vigilant and we will have to continue our movement for establishing democracy,” he added.

In the council, Fakhrul Alam and AKM Ruhul Amin Akanda were elected president and general secretary of Jatiyatabadi Textile Engineers’ Association.