PM warns against attempts to create anarchy over power, energy crisis

Prime Minister Tarek Rahman has apologised to industrial owners and the general public for the hardship caused by the ongoing power and energy crisis, saying the BNP is preparing a plan to ensure people do not face such a crisis in the future.

He made the remarks while addressing a discussion meeting organised to mark the founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

“As Bangladesh Nationalist Party is currently responsible for running the country, many people, including industrial owners and ordinary citizens, are suffering from power and energy shortages. I apologise to all of them on behalf of the party,” Tarek said.

He said the BNP was preparing its work plan so that people would not have to face an energy crisis in the future.

Tarek also alleged that some political groups that had remained hidden during the previous authoritarian rule might now be trying to create disorder from within.

“During the authoritarian regime, we saw a political party remain hidden. They operated secretly within the authoritarian system. Later, we saw their own people come forward and acknowledge this,” he said.

He urged the people to consider whether those who had remained hidden during the previous regime were now trying to incite anarchy from within and, if so, whether they were attempting to bring the authoritarian forces back.

Calling on activists of nationalist forces to make people aware of such developments, Tarek said the political alliances and mutual protection among different groups should be exposed before the public.

He described BNP as a political party that protects the democratic rights of the people, saying the party had repeatedly formed governments with public support through elections.

Tarek said the BNP wanted to build a humane state where the rights of every citizen would be ensured.

Recalling the contributions of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, he highlighted what he described as their roles in the country’s independence, restoration of multiparty democracy, growth of remittances and the garment sector, and expansion of women’s education.

He also highlighted Khaleda Zia’s initiatives, including free education for women, restoration of parliamentary democracy and introduction of the caretaker government system.

Tarek said BNP had played an important role in addressing the country’s crises, including making Bangladesh self-sufficient in food production after 1975 and helping the country recover from economic destruction and the stigma of corruption after the fall of the authoritarian regime in the 1990s.

He said BNP had continued its movement on the streets despite what he described as persecution and repression against opposition forces over the past 16-17 years.

Tarek said the people deserved full credit for the success of the 2024 movement, while BNP had remained alongside them during the struggle.

The discussion meeting began with a minute’s silence in memory of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, party chairperson Khaleda Zia and those killed in the movement. The national anthem and party anthem were then performed, followed by a documentary on BNP.

BNP acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi presided over the meeting. Central publicity secretary and State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku moderated it.

Economist Mahbubullah and BNP standing committee members Mirza Abbas, Goyeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, AZM Zahid Hossain, Amanullah Aman, Farhad Halim and Ismail Zabihullah also spoke at the meeting.

BNP founder Ziaur Rahman established the Bangladesh Nationalist Party on September 1, 1978. The discussion meeting marked the conclusion of the party’s five-day central programme celebrating its founding anniversary.

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