Sharsha: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday urged the country’s people not to pamper those attempting to create chaos and mislead the public over the referendum and the July National Charter for their political gains. ‘Some individuals and political parties are now trying to divert the referendum in a different direction and create confusion across the country,’ he said while addressing a gathering on the bank of the historic Ulashi Canal after inaugurating its re-excavation work in Sharsha upazila of Jashore.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the Prime Minister listed several government initiatives, including family cards for women, farmer cards, canal excavation, reopening of closed mills to create jobs, expanding healthcare to rural areas, and tree plantation drives. He criticized certain quarters for trying to create unrest and disorder, referencing a 173-day hartal that attempted to hinder the country’s economy. Tarique Rahman warned that the same ‘ghost’ has possessed others, urging citizens to remain alert against these elements.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of vigilance against those attempting to mislead the public regarding the referendum and July Charter. He warned that such elements could disrupt the government’s development programs and harm public welfare if allowed to create disorder. Tarique Rahman stressed the need for unity, reminding the public of the mass uprising on August 5, 2024, as a testament to the people’s resolve to protect their interests.
Highlighting various government initiatives, Tarique Rahman expressed confidence in their potential to bring meaningful changes to people’s lives across the country. He reiterated the commitment to implementing the July Charter, signed by political parties at the South Plaza of Parliament, word by word. The Prime Minister called for mobilizing the 40 crore hands of the country’s 20 crore people to build the nation, drawing parallels with Singapore’s transformation over the past 50 years.
The Prime Minister also announced plans to make education free for girls up to the degree level, emphasizing the need to expand educational opportunities for women, who make up half of Bangladesh’s population. Referring to past initiatives by his mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Tarique Rahman outlined the plan to extend free education for girls and introduce stipends for those achieving good academic results.
Earlier, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Ulashi Canal re-excavation project, highlighting its potential benefits for local farmers and residents. He noted that the canal had dried up due to siltation and lack of maintenance, and re-excavation could produce an estimated additional 1,400 tonnes of food grains. The project is expected to benefit around 20,000 farmers directly and 72,000 people overall. The government also plans to plant approximately 3,000 trees along the canal’s banks to further enhance its benefits for the local community.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Husain, Water Resources Minister Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister Forhad Hossain Azad, and State Minister for Local Government Mir Shahe Alam were among those present at the program, with State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit in the chair.