Fascist stirs anarchy behind the hidden actors:PM

• BNP’s 48th founding anniversary discussion meeting held:
• BNP has begun implementing its election pledges:PM

BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman raised the question of whether autocrats who remained “hidden” during the previous authoritarian era are now, from within that hidden state, fueling anarchy in the country. He said that if anyone tries to create anarchy by spreading confusion, action will be taken according to law. He said BNP has begun implementing the pledges it made before the election, and that some political parties or individuals are exploiting the country’s ongoing crises to try to sow anarchy through misinformation. Mr. Tarique Rahman made these remarks as chief guest at a discussion meeting held to mark BNP’s 48th founding anniversary.

The meeting was organized by BNP yesterday, Saturday afternoon, at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in the capital, presided over by the party’s Acting Secretary General Mr. Ruhul Kabir Rizvi. Referring to an opposition political party, Mr. Tarique Rahman said that during the authoritarian rule, that party had disguised itself in a “hidden guise,” which its own members later admitted.

He said various political parties and individuals are now trying to create anarchy in the country by spreading confusion, and that it must be revealed to the public who is behind this. Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman said the question has arisen as to whether the ousted autocrats, having taken shelter among those who remained “hidden” during the authoritarian period, are now trying to fuel anarchy — and that if so, this “hidden” force is working to bring autocracy back. The BNP Chairman alleged that this mutually hidden network has, at various points since 1971 — including 1986, 1996, over the past decade, and even now — repeatedly sheltered and concealed one another.

Acknowledging that the country faces various problems, Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman said that since coming to power, the BNP government has been trying to resolve issues left behind by the previous authoritarian government and the interim government, but that if any political party or individual tries to exploit these problems to spread confusion and create anarchy, it will not be tolerated. Describing BNP as a government elected by the people’s vote, the Prime Minister said the government will make its utmost effort to uphold the democratic process and follow democratic norms and ethics, but that anyone attempting to create anarchy will face action under the law.

He said that, as an elected government, he wanted to state clearly that everyone needs to stay within their limits. Noting that the BNP government inherited a fragile economy, Mr. Tarique Rahman said that, alongside this fragile economy, the government also has to bear the burden of problems in health, education, communication and other sectors, on top of managing the effects of the ongoing war situation. He described the energy crisis as the biggest of the country’s current problems, expressing regret that many people and factory owners across the country are suffering due to the electricity and energy crisis.

However, he said he did not want to present the problems left by past governments merely as an “excuse,” adding that the government wants to present the reality to the people and take steps so that people do not face the same kind of energy crisis again in the future. Noting that despite rising energy prices worldwide, efforts have been made to keep the burden on the public low, the Prime Minister said the government was ultimately forced to raise energy prices somewhat.