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The current elected government has become a symbol of public trust in its first six months in office, standing on the ruins left by 16 years of what the government described as fascist rule, Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson and adviser Mahdi Amin said on Monday.
He also claimed that there had been no political harassment in the country over the past six months and that the government had ensured the highest level of freedom of expression.
Mahdi Amin made the remarks at a press conference held at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon, Dhaka, marking 180 days of the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
At the press conference, he outlined the government’s achievements, reforms and future plans during its first 180 days in office.
Mahdi Amin said that after the 2014 election without voters, the 2018 midnight election and the 2024 “dummy election,” people were able to exercise their voting rights in the recently held participatory 13th parliamentary election. He said the government was working to fulfil the aspirations of the July mass uprising.
He said more than 100 ordinances were converted into laws during the first session of parliament. An amended anti-terrorism ordinance had also institutionally banned a “terrorist political organisation” that established fascist rule, he claimed.
On the economy, Mahdi Amin said the cabinet waived farmers’ loans of up to Tk 10,000, including interest, at its first meeting after taking office, benefiting 1.3 million farming families.
The government has also introduced Farmer Cards, Family Cards for women and Expatriate Cards for migrant workers.
He said the government reduced VAT and taxes on more than 60 products to control commodity prices during Ramadan.
Regarding the energy crisis, he said the government had taken several initiatives to address gas and electricity shortages inherited from the previous regime.
Discussions had been held with major companies from the United States, China and Malaysia. He said significant progress had been made in resolving the gas crisis through Petronas following direct talks between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
On healthcare reforms, the adviser said work had begun to upgrade every upazila health complex to 151 beds. The government has also planned to recruit 100,000 health workers and provide Tk 100,000 in assistance to people suffering from serious diseases.
He said major changes were also planned in the education sector, with new subjects to be introduced in Classes Four and Six from next year.
Free Wi-Fi, school uniforms and bags have begun to be provided at educational institutions, while tuition-free education for girls up to the undergraduate level has been ensured under the prime minister’s direction.
Claiming visible improvements in law and order, Mahdi Amin said a service-oriented police and administration free from political harassment had been established after breaking the pattern of the previous 16 years.
He also claimed visible progress in the investigations and trials of the murders of Sohagi Jahan Tonu and Shaheed Osman Hadi.
He said an accused in the murder of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman had also been arrested after many years.
The adviser further said Bangladesh had already requested the neighbouring country to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was convicted of crimes against humanity, and that the legal process was proceeding.
On foreign policy, he said the government had ended a “subservient foreign policy” by adopting the principle of “Bangladesh First.” The country was building relations with all nations based on equality, fairness and dignity, he said.
He also highlighted Bangladesh’s election as president of the United Nations General Assembly, describing it as a source of pride on the global stage.
Describing Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s lifestyle as simple, the PM’s Office spokesperson said the prime minister had broken the VIP culture and positioned himself among ordinary people. He said the prime minister had repeatedly travelled to grassroots areas and even participated in canal-digging work.
The press conference also highlighted government measures to move away from corruption-prone mega projects towards environmentally friendly and cost-effective initiatives, reopen abandoned factories, keep previously closed ports operational around the clock and increase remittances from expatriate Bangladeshis.
