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Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has expressed regret over the hardships faced by ordinary people and businesses amid the country’s ongoing power and gas crisis.
He made the remarks on Saturday (September 5) at a discussion meeting held at the Bangladesh Agriculturalists Institution auditorium to mark the 48th founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
Acknowledging the current gas and electricity shortages, the prime minister said the energy crisis is currently the country’s biggest challenge. “Many people are suffering because of the energy crisis. We are not denying that,” he said.
Tarique Rahman said the BNP government, which he described as a government elected by the people, has already formulated an action plan to address the crisis. However, he noted that implementing the plan would require some time.
He said the government is also working on a long-term plan to ensure that Bangladesh does not face a similar energy crisis if another major global disruption occurs in the future.
“Since the BNP is now responsible for running the government, many industrial owners as well as ordinary people are suffering from this energy crisis. On behalf of myself and my party, I express my regret to them,” the prime minister said.
He also said the government would not simply use the problems inherited from the previous regime as an excuse for the current difficulties. Instead, he said, the government wanted to present the reality to the people and take effective measures to prevent such crises from recurring.
The programme began with a special prayer for the souls of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, and other deceased leaders and activists of the party.
The discussion was held under the slogan, “We Will Work, We Will Build the Country, Bangladesh First.” Participants observed a minute of silence in memory of Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and other martyrs before a documentary on the BNP was screened.
BNP Central Publicity Secretary and State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salahuddin Tuku moderated the programme.
Members of the BNP Standing Committee, including Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moin Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, Dr A. Z. M. Zahid Hossain, Amanullah Aman, Farhad Halim and Md Ismail Jabiullah, attended the event.