'Street-cleaning after Fajr is no longer visible'

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has taken a swipe at the opposition, saying the street-cleaning activities seen in the early days after the BNP formed the government are no longer visible, and urged political parties to work together in the national interest.

''In the first few days after the BNP formed the government, I saw people going out to clean the streets after Fajr prayers. We no longer see that happening. Let us all engage ourselves in serving the country.''

The prime minister made the remarks on Monday after inaugurating the July Memorial and the modernisation works at Osmani Udyan in the capital.

His comments appeared to refer to Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman, who cleaned roads in his Mirpur constituency after Fajr prayers the day after being sworn in as opposition leader in parliament.

Tarique Rahman also accused the opposition of opposing the government merely for the sake of opposition, warning against a return to what he described as the country’s old political culture.

“Of course, the opposition will oppose the government, but that opposition must be constructive. If, in opposing the government, the opposition opens the door for authoritarianism to return, that would be a betrayal of the Liberation War and the spirit of July.''

The prime minister said the aspirations of the martyrs of the July uprising and the 1971 Liberation War were fundamentally the same: ensuring quality education for the people and a better environment in the country.

He added that Bangladesh had returned to democracy through the sacrifices of those who fought for these causes.

Tarique said the people had entrusted the BNP with the responsibility of governing the country through voting, following the democratic process practised around the world.