Shibganj:State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Mir Shahe Alam, has stated that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is committed to inclusive politics, engaging all communities irrespective of religion and ethnicity. He emphasized the BNP's focus on securing votes through economic and social development, speaking at a press briefing today at Shibganj Upazila Parishad.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Shahe Alam highlighted the BNP's foundation on Bangladeshi nationalism by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and refuted intentions of exploiting any religion or community for political gains. He stressed the importance of freedom of expression while urging opposition leaders to maintain civility in their discourse, warning against the public's negative reception of disrespectful remarks.
The state minister criticized the opposition's response to the energy crisis and their absence at the inauguration of a martyr memorial, attended by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Despite invitations extended by the Dhaka South City Corporation, opposition leaders failed to attend, citing insubstantial reasons.
Shahe Alam noted that the memorial at Osmani Udyan inscribed with 834 martyrs' names is the sole monument of its kind in Bangladesh. He dismissed claims by Jamaat-e-Islami's secretary general regarding invitation omissions, citing examples of other leaders whose names were also absent but were invited on stage.
Addressing the political stance of Jamaat-e-Islami and other opposition parties, he cautioned against the confusion spread under a one-point demand and highlighted the historical consequences of politics exploiting religion. Shahe Alam reiterated the BNP's commitment to non-exploitative politics and urged opposition parties to collaborate on the Constitutional Amendment Committee for the July Charter.
Concluding the briefing, Shahe Alam presented financial support to the family of a road accident victim in Kichak Haripur village.