PM Tarique urges parties to vow to change people's fate
Jamaat chief says they do not want even a second of parliamentary time to be wasted on 'character assassination'
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged political parties to pledge to work towards changing the fate of the people of Bangladesh.
"Let us take a pledge at this iftar gathering that our future actions will be aimed at changing the fate of the people of this country," he said while addressing an iftar mahfil hosted by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre today (28 February).
He said the people of the country are now looking to political parties with great hope and expectation.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
"Let us pray to Almighty Allah to grant us the ability to work to improve the lives of the people of this country," Tarique said.
The prime minister thanked Jamaat-e-Islami leaders for inviting him to the iftar programme.
Addressing the event, Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman said that parliament can never function on a single wheel, and that both the ruling party and the opposition are necessary to keep it operational.
"If the ruling party is the front wheel, the opposition will be the rear wheel. We do not want to be a 'dummy' opposition as in the past. We will support the government's correct initiatives, but if any inappropriate decisions are made, we will offer constructive criticism and suggestions," said the opposition leader.
The Jamaat chief further said that they do not want even a second of parliamentary time to be wasted on "character assassination."
Describing 28 February 2013 as a "black day" for the nation, Shafiqur said, "On this day, world-renowned Mufassir-e-Quran Allama Delwar Hossain Sayeedi was sentenced through a staged verdict," he said.
"When ordinary people took to the streets in protest, the then government opened indiscriminate fire, killing 70 people in a single day and 164 people within a week," he added.
Expressing gratitude to former prime minister Khaleda Zia, Shafiqur said she was in Singapore during the 2013 killings and, upon returning, described the incident as a "genocide" and called a hartal.
"From prison, we witnessed her courageous role. We pray that Allah grants her the highest place in Jannah," he said.
Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon, BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Moyeen Khan, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Mamunul Haque, Jamaat's Nayeb-e-Amir and MP Syed Abdullah Mohammed Taher, Jagpa spokesperson Rashed Pradhan, NCP member secretary and MP Akhter Hossen, NCP Chief Coordinator Nasiruddin Patwary, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, LDP President Oli Ahmad, Ducsu VP Shadik Kayem and MPs, eminent personalities and journalists, among others, attended the iftar.
