The Prime Minister’s Office has accused opposition parties of obstructing national development efforts, saying political confrontation and misinformation are undermining the government’s reform agenda just two months after it took office.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday to mark the BNP government’s first 60 days, Dr Mahdi Amin, adviser and spokesperson at the Prime Minister’s Office, said the administration had expected constructive engagement from its political rivals.
“We had hoped the opposition would support the positive initiatives undertaken under the Prime Minister’s leadership,” he said. “Instead, we have witnessed disruptions in parliament, threats of street protests and the spread of rumours and propaganda, all of which hinder the country’s progress.”
Mahdi argued that such actions risk slowing the implementation of reforms that the government began rolling out immediately after assuming office. He presented what he described as a 180 day action plan, outlining 60 key measures introduced across sectors including social welfare, agriculture, energy and economic management.
Among the flagship initiatives is a pilot Family Card programme designed to support women and strengthen household finances. So far, 37,567 families have begun receiving monthly payments of Tk 2,500.
A Farmer Card scheme has also been introduced in 10 districts, reaching more than 22,000 small and marginal farmers, including those in fisheries and livestock. In addition, interest has been waived on loans of up to Tk 10,000 for around 1.2 million small farmers.
Mahdi said the government has launched a major water management project to dredge and re excavate approximately 20,000 kilometres of rivers and canals, with work already under way in 54 districts.
He added that fuel prices have remained stable despite global market volatility, supported by increased subsidies and strengthened international procurement.
In the renewable energy sector, 35 megawatts have been added to the national grid through rooftop solar and net metering systems. The government aims to generate 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2030. A pilot fuel card system has also been introduced. According to the spokesperson, inflation and essential commodity prices were kept relatively stable during Ramadan through coordinated imports and supply management.
Mahdi said the broader objective is to place Bangladesh on a path toward becoming a one trillion dollar economy by 2034, with policies focused on stability, inclusion and growth.
He also described as a “matter of great pride” the inclusion of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people this year, calling it international recognition of his leadership and role in restoring democracy.
At the same briefing, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Abu Abdullah M Saleh, known as Saleh Shibly, said the administration’s most significant achievement so far has been regaining public trust.
“Our biggest success in these 60 days is that the people of Bangladesh have placed their trust in Tarique Rahman, and he has placed his trust in them,” Saleh said.
He noted that the Prime Minister has maintained direct engagement with citizens and has prioritised public interaction, placing less emphasis on personal security. According to the press secretary, confidence in the government has strengthened, particularly in its leadership.
Saleh said the BNP’s 31 point reform agenda, widely promoted during the election campaign, is now being translated into policy action. He emphasised that voters have the right to hold their elected representatives accountable for delivering on manifesto pledges.
The press secretary also cautioned against the growing spread of misinformation, including fabricated content generated using artificial intelligence. He urged mainstream media outlets to uphold professional standards to help the public distinguish between verified reporting and misleading material circulating online.
“False information may create confusion temporarily, but ultimately the truth prevails,” he said, expressing hope that responsible journalism would counter online disinformation and support informed public debate.
