Dhaka: BNP acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Tuesday announced that normal gas supply across Bangladesh is expected to be restored by the first or second week of September. He shared this update while speaking to reporters after visiting the graves of BNP founder and late president Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Rizvi highlighted the impact of the ongoing global energy crisis on Bangladesh, attributing disruptions particularly to the US-Iran conflict and its effect on shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz. He remarked, “This is a global crisis. Ships cannot come through the Strait of Hormuz because of the US-Iran war and fuel supplies are being disrupted. When one or two ships tried to come bombs were dropped there.”
Rizvi also mentioned that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is actively addressing the energy crisis by allocating Tk 40,000 crore from the national budget towards the energy and power sector to mitigate the gas shortage. He added that technical issues at the Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) in Maheshkhali have been resolved, with regasification processes restarting, aiming for normal gas supply by September.
Discussing BNP’s founding anniversary, Rizvi emphasized the party’s commitment to politics that fulfills its promises to the public. He stated that BNP came to power through a fair election, and PM Tarique Rahman is diligently working to meet the pledges made to the people.
Rizvi acknowledged the challenges facing the party and government, including conspiracies and plots, but expressed confidence in Tarique Rahman’s leadership. He noted that overcoming challenges is critical to achieving positive outcomes.
The government is also focused on implementing BNP’s commitments, such as the Farmers Card, Family Card, and allowances for imams and muezzins. When questioned about the overlap between the party and government roles, Rizvi explained that the BNP formed the government after being elected by the people, and thus its leaders naturally run the government.
He reiterated that BNP leaders and activists are integral to the government’s efforts and will inform the public about welfare programs. Rizvi stressed that while the party and government remain distinct, the responsibility of governance rests with BNP leaders.