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Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has assumed power not for personal gain but as a responsibility to serve the people, said his Press Secretary Saleh Shibli.
“Through various government activities, people are now beginning to realise that they are the true owners of the state,” he said, adding that the prime minister’s day-to-day activities had helped create this sense among the people.
Shibli made the remarks at a press conference on Wednesday on the government’s activities over the past month at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. Deputy Press Secretary-1 Zahidul Islam Rony moderated the briefing.
Shibli said the present government was an accountable government and that the media was playing an important role in presenting its activities to the people.
“As a mirror of society, the media brings daily events before the people and serves as a bridge between the government and the people in ensuring accountability,” he said.
He said under the parliamentary system, various information reaches the public through Parliament, while elected representatives and ministries also provide information to citizens.
The information adviser regularly briefs the public on government activities every Tuesday through the Ministry of Information, he said. Activities of the Prime Minister’s Office are communicated through PMO Bangladesh, while information on specific issues is also provided by the PMO spokesperson.
“Informing journalists about these matters formally from time to time is part of the government’s commitment to accountability to the people,” Shibli said.
Describing the prime minister’s daily activities, the press secretary said Tarique Rahman worked from morning until evening and regularly followed social media and newspapers.
“If any problem or public complaint comes to his attention, he gives instructions through the relevant departments, ministers, officials and elected representatives to resolve it,” Shibli said.
He added that the prime minister also monitored various types of positive and negative campaigns on social media and sometimes summoned relevant individuals to discuss issues directly.
Shibli said the government had completed 212 days since taking office on February 17.
“People have already benefited from many of the government’s initiatives, while some others will take more time to produce results,” he said.
He called for patience as the government works towards its goal of bringing qualitative changes to politics.
“We need time to see the results of the qualitative change in politics that the government is working towards. We believe that good results will come if we wait patiently,” he said.