Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today criticized the past Awami League government for initiating several unwise megaprojects, arguing that these projects, undertaken in the name of development, did not truly represent the country’s progress. He made these remarks while virtually addressing the concluding session of the 3rd National Council of the Jatiyatabadi Textile Engineers’ Association at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Tarique Rahman highlighted that the misdeeds of the Awami League government in economic and political spheres are being exposed continuously. He asserted that Bangladesh exemplifies how an economy can become unhealthy when its political environment is compromised. He further accused the Awami League government of making the country overly reliant on imports and loans.
Tarique Rahman also recounted the events during the students-led mass uprising in July-August, mentioning that an autocrat f
led the country after causing significant casualties. He stressed the importance of prioritizing medical treatment for those affected by the uprising.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, among other party leaders, addressed the program. Tarique Rahman called on the interim government to prioritize controlling the prices of essentials to alleviate public suffering and emphasized that it would be challenging to address the damages caused by the previous regime within a short timeframe.
He also warned against conspiracies allegedly being hatched by allies and beneficiaries of the dictator to undermine the interim government. Tarique Rahman advocated for the interim government to establish trust with the populace to counter these conspiracies effectively.
The BNP acting chairman discussed plans to make the garments and textile sectors more profitable and to stimulate demand in the global market. He emphasized increasing the production of goods by fostering investments in small and medium enterp
rises, particularly in the SME sector.
Regarding BNP’s 31-point program, Tarique Rahman described it as a historical charter for future development, with a focus on quality and technical education. He noted the global shortage of skilled workers and highlighted the potential of turning Bangladesh’s population into a valuable human resource.
He concluded by emphasizing the necessity of political and economic empowerment to ensure democracy and reiterated the call for a neutral and fair election. He expressed support for the interim government’s initiative to reconstitute the Election Commission, aligning with the people’s expectations for a transparent voting environment.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir reaffirmed BNP’s support for the interim government’s reform efforts for a fair election, advocating for continued vigilance and movement towards establishing democracy. The council also announced the election of Fakhrul Alam and AKM Ruhul Amin Akanda as president and general secretary of the Jatiyatabadi Textil
e Engineers’ Association, respectively.