Opposition following the path of those who fled, says Ruman

Prime Minister's Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman has alleged that the opposition is operating along the lines of the previous government that fled the country.

"I feel that those who are opposing us are following the same formula through which the fugitive government ran the country. They are still following that formula," he said, adding that he was not making the allegation directly.

Ruman made the remarks at a press conference at the Prime Minister's Office in Dhaka's Tejgaon, today (30 September), on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to the United States to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

He said the prime minister's UN visit was successful but alleged that planned disruptions in Bangladesh diverted attention from its outcome.

"While we were preparing to leave for America, some undesirable incidents occurred in Bangladesh. I will not say they happened. You will understand," Ruman said.

He claimed reports of the incidents were initially published by relatively lesser-known online news outlets and were later picked up and widely reported by established online outlets, newspapers and other media.

He said another incident emerged after the prime minister returned to Bangladesh, again shifting media attention away from the outcome of his visit.

Ruman said the media should have focused on the government's achievements under Tarique Rahman's leadership and Bangladesh's achievements internationally, but various incidents had shifted the focus elsewhere.

Urging cooperation with the government, he said achieving success would be difficult if obstacles were repeatedly created.

"If you ask someone to swim across a river but tie their hands and feet, they will not be able to cross it," he said.

"We want cooperation. We are repeatedly appealing to you to cooperate with us," Ruman said, urging people to support Tarique Rahman's efforts to build "a beautiful and successful Bangladesh".