Anee: Work underway to build self-reliant BD

Water Resources Minister and BNP Joint Secretary General Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee has said work is underway to build a modern and self-reliant Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at a sewing machine distribution programme among women in Dattapara Union of Chandraganj upazila in Lakshmipur on Friday (October 23).

Life Line Welfare Organisation organised the programme on the premises of Totakhil Ayesha High School in the area.

Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee said, a plan to build a modern and self-reliant Bangladesh under Tarique Rahman's leadership had been presented to the nation before the election. Work was now underway at the grassroots level to implement that plan. He said the country must move forward with a renewed vision of nation-building by strengthening Tarique Rahman's leadership.

The water resources minister said, people had faced deprivation, neglect, corruption and misrule over the past 17 years. Following Tarique Rahman's vision and forward-looking plans, the BNP had launched various programmes across the country. He called on everyone to work collectively to protect the country, adding that tree plantation and canal excavation programmes would play an important role in this regard.

He said, the late BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia had faced oppression and persecution. Tarique Rahman, too, had been unable to work directly from the country because of his life in exile. Despite staying abroad, he provided plans through Zoom meetings, while party leaders and activists worked to implement them at the grassroots level. He added that they had faced imprisonment and various forms of persecution during this period.

Anee further said, movements and protests against the previous government had been built through grassroots-level activities. Ordinary people had led and participated in those movements, and their involvement had helped restore a normal environment in the country.

Speaking about the role of the opposition, the water resources minister said the current opposition party had also played a role in movements and protests, which he did not deny. However, he questioned its role in various programmes, including the movement on October 28. He also raised questions about the opposition's position during BNP processions, rallies and public meetings in Lakshmipur.

Referring to the political situations in 1986 and 1996, as well as hartals and blockades, Anee urged everyone to remain aware and vigilant.

He further said, anyone could now organise a long march, road march or a one-point movement and go to the Secretariat or Parliament. However, he said issuing threats would serve no purpose, as they had risen from the field and the streets.

The programme was chaired by Shams Jerin Georgi, president of Life Line Welfare Organisation. Special guests included Executive Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare Md Kamruzzaman, the organisation's founder Ahsan Habib, Chandraganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Nilufa Yasmin Nipa, Chandraganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abdur Rab, and Chandraganj upazila BNP President Bellal Hossain.

-MT