Keep party members away from wrongdoing, not out of party: Info Minister Swapon

BARISHAL, July 28: Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, MP, has urged party leaders to keep inactive members away from wrongdoing instead of expelling them from the organisation.

He made the remarks on Tuesday while inaugurating a tree plantation programme along both banks of the Kutubpur Self Reliance Canal (Swanirvor Khal) in Gouranadi Upazila of the district, organised by the Upazila Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal in memory of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.

The minister said, “Our party is a big family. Some members are active, while others remain absent during important times. They should be identified, but there is no need to kick them out. The priority is to ensure that they do not become involved in any wrongdoing.”

Abdul Kalam Hawlader, convener of Gouranadi Upazila Krishak Dal, chaired the event. The minister later planted saplings along the canal and called for greater public participation in tree plantation to protect the environment.

The minister inaugurated the three-day Tree Plantation Campaign and Tree Fair 2026 at Gouranadi Girls’ School and College at around 12pm. The fair will continue until July 30. He planted a tree on the campus and distributed saplings among students.

Later, the minister attended another programme at the Upazila Parishad auditorium at noon. Sports equipment and tree saplings were distributed among students of primary and secondary schools under the Annual Development Programme (ADP). Crests were also presented to district level participants of the Notun Kuri programme.