PM sees plot behind energy crisis unrest

Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman warned on Saturday that anyone attempting to create anarchy by exploiting the country’s energy crisis would face action under the law, questioning whether forces linked to the ousted autocracy were operating from behind the scenes to fuel unrest.

He was addressing a discussion at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh in Dhaka to mark the BNP’s 48th founding anniversary. 

His remarks came as the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance staged a long march from Dhaka to Chattogram over a six-point charter, including implementation of the referendum verdict under the July National Charter.

“The country’s biggest challenge at present is the energy crisis, and a comprehensive action plan has been taken to address the problem, though its implementation will take some time,” he said. “Law will take its own course if any political party or individual attempts to create anarchy by spreading confusion.”

Without naming the party directly, Tarique accused an opposition group of having adopted a “disguise” during the previous autocratic regime, a fact he said its own members had since admitted. 

He alleged that rival covert forces had shielded one another at various points since 1971, including in 1986 and 1996, and called for those behind such manoeuvres to be exposed.

Describing BNP as an elected government, Tarique said it was working to resolve problems inherited from the previous Awami League and interim administrations, and would not use those failures as an excuse for its own shortcomings. 

“As an elected government, I want to say clearly, everyone needs to stay within their limits,” he said.

He acknowledged that the government had inherited a fragile economy, alongside pressures in health, education and communication, compounded by the effects of an ongoing war. 

He expressed regret that industrial owners and the public were suffering because of the power and energy crisis, and said the government wanted to be transparent about the situation while working to prevent a recurrence. 

Despite rising global fuel prices, he said, efforts had been made to limit the burden on citizens, though the government had ultimately been compelled to raise fuel prices slightly.

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Tarique said his government had begun implementing its election pledges, citing family cards to support women, farmer cards, and assistance for imams, khatibs and muazzins, alongside efforts to improve education, healthcare and doorstep medical services for villagers. 

He said taxes had not been raised on roughly 60 essential commodities and had been reduced on several items in the current fiscal year’s budget, while accusing other parties of offering manifestos built on “deceptive promises” rather than substance.

Turning to the party’s history, Tarique credited founder Ziaur Rahman with introducing multi-party democracy and laying the groundwork for the remittance economy and the readymade garment industry, and former chairperson Khaleda Zia with introducing parliamentary democracy and free education for girls. 

“Establishing democracy is not enough,” he said. “A sustainable democracy is a must,” which he tied to strengthening the economy alongside freedom of speech, press freedom and democratic practice.

He also referred to what he described as “the fascist rule of the past 16 years,” alleging that more than five million BNP leaders and activists had been targeted with false and fabricated cases during that period. 

He urged party workers to focus on serving the country rather than seeking posts, noting that not everyone could become an MP or minister, and said most party members would remain workers who could prove themselves through their conduct.

Citing the government’s plan to plant 250 million trees over the next five years, Tarique called on party leaders and activists to take part and to raise their voices for environmental protection.

Referring to a discussion circulating on social media questioning BNP’s role in the country’s independence, he said, “Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman declared the country’s independence. So it is a settled fact. No matter how hard anyone tries, whether through laws or the courts, it is impossible to erase that name from Bangladesh.”

The programme opened with recitation from the Holy Quran under the slogan “Korbo Kaj, Gorbo Desh, Shobar Age Bangladesh” (“We will work, build the country, Bangladesh first”), followed by a minute’s silence in memory of Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and other party martyrs, the national anthem, the party anthem, and a documentary marking the party’s 48 years. 

Ziaur Rahman founded BNP on 1 September 1978; the five-day central programme marking the anniversary, which began the previous Tuesday, concluded with Saturday’s discussion.

BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi presided over the event, with Central Publicity Secretary and State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Sultan Salauddin Tuku conducting proceedings. 

Economist Mahbub Ullah and Standing Committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Selima Rahman, AZM Zahid Hossain, Md Aman Ullah Aman, Farhad Haleem and Md Ismail Zabiullah were among those in attendance.