Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said the main purpose of politics should be to ensure the welfare of the people, not to create confusion or disorder. He called on opposition political parties to abandon vandalism and disruptive street politics and instead come forward with practical initiatives for the people.

He made the remarks on Saturday while addressing a cheque distribution and prayer ceremony for distressed, helpless and sick people at the T&T Ground in Mohakhali, Dhaka, marking the 82nd birth anniversary of the late Begum Khaleda Zia.

Addressing the opposition, the prime minister said, “Leave behind the politics of sitting on the streets, vandalism and creating disorder, and work for the people. If you have any realistic plan to resolve the fuel or electricity crisis, present it before the people. If your plan can solve the problem even within six months, the government will gladly implement it.”

Outlining the government’s healthcare development plans, Tarique Rahman said, “We have decided that within the next five years, all 503 upazila hospitals across the country will be converted into 151-bed facilities. This will enable ordinary people, particularly mothers and children, to receive improved healthcare services in their own areas.”

He said, “In the past, healthcare was controlled in such a way that people were forced to go abroad, but the current government is determined to bring services to people’s doorsteps.”

The prime minister also apologised to the people over the ongoing electricity and gas shortages. He said, “The fascist government left behind nearly Tk 300,000 crore in debt in the power sector and did not build the infrastructure needed for fuel imports. After coming to power, we instructed BAPEX to explore and extract gas within the country. A temporary problem has arisen because an LNG vessel was damaged in an accident, but it can be resolved quickly.”

Criticising the recent protest tactics of some political parties, Tarique Rahman said, “Some parties are seen protesting with a hurricane lamp in front of them, while a fan is running behind them. People no longer like this kind of recklessness. When people were subjected to repression, enforced disappearances and killings for 17 years, these leaders were not seen on the streets.”

Speaking about his vision for Bangladesh’s future, the prime minister said, “The 400 million hands belonging to Bangladesh’s 200 million people must be transformed from labourers’ hands into the hands of skilled workers. What I personally gained is not the most important thing; the greatest fulfilment is what I was able to do for the country and its people.”

At the end of his speech, Tarique Rahman expressed his determination to build Bangladesh into a prosperous nation on the global stage by following the ideals of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and the patriotism of Begum Khaleda Zia.