'We must focus on the struggle of life': Anee urges unity to overcome poverty, hardship

Bangladesh must now move beyond political struggles and focus on the struggle to overcome poverty and hardship, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee said today (16 October).

"For 17 to 18 years, Bangladesh went through a difficult period, and each of us experienced it in our own way. Today, we have a normal life that we could not have imagined even three years ago. We must preserve this," he said at the annual general meeting and scholarship distribution ceremony of Lakshmipur Samaj Unnayan Parishad in Lakshmipur town.

Anee said people had endured poverty and hardship since independence, adding that education, social standing, awareness and social work would have little value if people could not lead normal lives.

He called on people to work together to strengthen Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's hand and build a new Bangladesh for its people.

"There is no need to recount the 17 years. We formed the government through movements and protests; there was no electoral process. Now we have started the electoral process anew," he said, adding that the country would have to overcome difficult circumstances to reach its goals.

He urged people across political lines to maintain unity, cooperate with one another and strengthen the foundations of democracy. Even carrying out routine government work properly could help bring development to Bangladesh, he said.

Anee said lawmakers often held constructive discussions in parliament but failed to maintain the same spirit outside it. At times, anger and the pursuit of other programmes could harm the country, he said, urging leaders to consider the wider consequences before taking action.

The event was chaired by Mohammad Saif Uddin, president of Lakshmipur Samaj Unnayan Parishad.

Scholarships were awarded to 25 meritorious students at the event.