PM working to build safe, humane Bangladesh: Press secretary

Prime Minister's Press Secretary Saleh Shibly today (30 September) said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has begun pursuing politics based on tolerance and humanity and is working to build a safe and humane Bangladesh.

"People in Bangladesh who were previously unable to speak out have begun a journey from darkness towards light. Coming out of the terrible misrule of fascism, the Prime Minister has embraced politics of tolerance and humanity and is trying to build a safe and humane Bangladesh," he said.

Saleh Shibly made the remarks while speaking at a press conference at the Karabi Hall of the Prime Minister's Office in Tejgaon, organised to brief the media on the Prime Minister's recent New York visit to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

He urged everyone not to mistake the Prime Minister's tolerance and humanity for weakness. "If we consider this tolerance and humanity a weakness and try to create disorder, it will not be good for us. We must not forget that," he said.

The press secretary said the country is currently going through a favourable phase and urged everyone to make proper use of the opportunity to build a better state and society based on humane values.

"If anyone misuses this time, if we fail to properly utilise this opportunity, and if we cannot grab the opportunity that now exists to establish a beautiful state and society with humane characteristics, it will not bring good results for all of us," he said.

Regarding the Prime Minister's New York visit, Saleh Shibly said Tarique Rahman spoke in favour of the people, world peace and global human rights.

He said political or economic change alone is not enough to bring about transformation in a state and society.

The press secretary said the Prime Minister had sought to ensure a qualitative change in the country's traditional politics from the very beginning.

He pointed out that Tarique Rahman travelled to New York with a delegation of only around 35 people.

"You have already learned, and we have also learned, that 293 people travelled to the United Nations from Bangladesh on special or chartered aircraft in the past. Whose money was spent on those 293 people? It was my money, your money, the people's money and money from the government treasury. But there was no accountability," Saleh Shibly said.

"In contrast, the Prime Minister travelled on a regular commercial flight with only 35 people. He did not travel on chartered aircraft. We travelled with the Prime Minister on Turkish Airlines, and on the return journey we came by Emirates Airlines," he said.

According to the press secretary, Tarique Rahman is not working on only one front focused on political and economic empowerment or making Bangladesh self-reliant and prosperous politically and economically.

"Rather, through the revival of our age-old religious, social and family values, he wants to establish a vibrant society in Bangladesh where people will respect one another, elders will show affection and care for younger people, and younger people will respect their elders," he said.

Saleh Shibly said the Prime Minister is working alongside other efforts to rebuild such a humane society. "And while doing so, you will see one thing: he does everything himself first. That means he sets an example first and then sends his message," he said.

He then referred to what he described as more than 15 years of "fascist" rule, saying the country's politics, economy and people's rights had been controlled during that period.

The press secretary said enforced disappearance, killing, abduction, murder, rape, attack, filing of cases and harassment had created what he described as a "fascist" system of rule and a culture of fear.

"You will see, I have heard many people who used to participate in talk shows say that while returning home after a talk show, they would think whether they would receive a phone call or whether someone would abduct them," he said, adding that now that situation does not exist.

Saleh Shibly said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman wants to build a humane society free from the politics of vengeance.

Referring to the call for cooperation made earlier by Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon at the press conference, he explained why such cooperation is being sought.

"Why are we asking for cooperation? You know, for a person to practise politics in Bangladesh today, the honourable Prime Minister has gone through every situation that one has to face," the press secretary said.

He said numerous false cases had been filed against Tarique Rahman, who had been arrested, placed on remand, subjected to torture, forced to leave the country and prevented from delivering speeches.

Saleh Shibly also said the house where Tarique Rahman had grown up and which carried his memories had been taken away.

"After 17 years, that Tarique Rahman has returned and, believing in the people and believing that the people are the source of political power, is now running the state with the mandate of the people," he said.

PM's Adviser and PMO Spokesperson Mahdi Amin, PM's Additional Press Secretary Rumon, Speechwriter Mahfuzur Rahman, Deputy Press Secretaries Hasan Shiplu and Md Suzauddhowla, and Assistant Press Secretaries Md Nazmul Haque Khan and Abdullah Al Mahmud Shahriar were present at the press conference.