Put your own house in order: PM tells Jamaat Ameer

FENI, Oct 1: Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Thursday told Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the opposition in Parliament Shafiqur Rahman to “put your own house in order” before advising others, accusing some members of his party of exploiting isolated incidents to create disorder in the country.

He made the remarks while speaking at a programme marking the inauguration of the rehabilitation of the Muhuri-Kahua Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation Project (Phase I) in Parshuram upazila of Feni.

“Please put your own house in order first, and then advise others,” the prime minister said, addressing the Jamaat chief.

Tarique alleged that some “mischievous” members of a political party were involved in undesirable incidents in the densely populated country and that attempts were being made to exploit those incidents to create disorder.

“If development activities in the country are disrupted because of this, they will also have to bear the responsibility,” he said, adding that his government was committed to establishing the rule of law.

The prime minister further alleged that the activities of members of a political party were tarnishing Bangladesh’s image not only at home but also abroad, while its leaders were advising others.

Referring to the party without naming it, Tarique alleged that it had “returned to the role it played in 1971” and accused its members of involvement in violence against women and killings.

“It is now time to expose their masks,” he told BNP leaders, activists and people attending the programme.

Tarique also claimed that, although there are many political parties in the country, only the BNP is working for the welfare of the country and its people.

HEALTH AND AGRICULTURE
The prime minister said that during the BNP government's five-year term, all upazila health complexes would be upgraded to 150-bed facilities and dialysis services for kidney patients would be introduced at those health centres.

Referring to the government's election pledges, Tarique said the BNP government had waived agricultural loans of up to Tk10,000 after taking office.

Although the initiative cost the government around Tk1,500 crore, he said about 1.3 million farmers had benefited.

Tarique also said the previous government had suppressed people's voices and deprived them of their rights for 17 years, and that the BNP had restored those rights after coming to power through the February 12 election.

Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee chaired the programme. Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo and Housing and Public Works Minister Zakaria Taher Suman also spoke.

PROJECTS, SOCIAL PROTECTION INITIATIVES
Earlier, despite heavy rain, the prime minister inaugurated the long-awaited flood-control project after arriving in Parshuram by road from Dhaka.

Later, at a programme at the Fulgazi Government Pilot High School ground, he was scheduled to inaugurate or launch several development and social protection initiatives, including the distribution of Family Cards and Farmer Cards, honorariums for imams and priests, and the installation of a 249-kilowatt solar power system.

Under the Farmer Card programme, 5,643 farmers in Feni have been selected to receive cards. Of them, 1,012 were scheduled to attend the inaugural programme, with 10 farmers set to receive their cards directly from the prime minister.