People already fed up with govt: Shafiqur

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer and Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Dr Shafiqur Rahman has said people have become frustrated with the government’s performance within a short period of time.

“The people will assess both the government and the opposition over five years and then deliver their verdict. We believe in that verdict. We will not say yet whether the current government is succeeding or failing, but people have already become fed up within such a short time. If the government had sought our cooperation, I believe many problems could have been resolved,” he said.

He made the remarks while responding to questions from journalists during an interaction with local media professionals at the Bagerhat Circuit House on Friday morning.

Urging journalists to call a spade a spade, Shafiqur Rahman said, “If I am wrong, do not spare me either. If the fourth pillar of the state remains effective and functional, we can expect all parts of the state machinery to function properly. If this pillar is weakened, you cannot expect anything good from the state machinery.”

He urged journalists to remain strong and independent in holding the government accountable.

“Who will say whether the government is doing right or wrong? You will, won’t you? If that space remains intact and strong, the country will move forward,” he said.

Asked about bringing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh, Shafiqur Rahman questioned why the government had yet to take steps to bring her back despite an existing prisoner-exchange agreement.

“Why is there a delay in bringing Sheikh Hasina back when a prisoner-exchange agreement exists? Why is the government not bringing her back on its own responsibility? Instead, why is she saying that she will return? The government can answer that better,” he said.

Turning the question back to the journalist, he said, “You should ask this question to a minister of the government. Like you, we also demand that the government should take responsibility for bringing her back. She should face the judicial proceedings against her and the verdict that has been delivered. However, we have always said that the trial must be fair. We do not want an unjust trial.”

Bagerhat Jamaat Ameer Maulana Rezaul Karim, Bagerhat-1 MP Mashiur Rahman Khan, Bagerhat-2 MP Sheikh Manjurul Haque Rahad, Bagerhat-4 MP Abdul Alim and other party leaders were also present at the meeting.