PM vows lifelong service to the country 

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Reiterating that the country’s people are the source of all power for BNP, Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman today said BNP will continue working for the country and its people as long as its leaders remain alive.

“People are the source of all power for the BNP. The support of the people is our strength. Therefore, as long as we live, we will continue working for this country and its people,” he said. 

The premier said this while addressing a brief rally after inaugurating the re-excavation work of the Patli canal in Pmkhali Union in the district this morning.

Stating that BNP always pursue the people’s welfare-oriented politics, the Prime Minister said, “I have seen in the newspapers, Alhamdulillah, that no prices of essential commodities have increased so far after the announcement of budget this year.”

“Because, the government removed taxes on 60 products in the budget announced two days ago. The products include rice, lentils, edible oil, salt and other daily necessities, so that prices do not rise. The objective is simple: to ensure that people can live well,” he continued.

Alleging that the opposition party is opposing the proposed budget in an attempt to create instability in the country, the BNP chairman said, “The opposition says they do not accept this budget and call it anti-people.”

“I want to leave a question to you. The opposition party cannot not accept the budget that reduces taxes...They also do not like the budget that increases the prices of alcohol and cigarettes. Can you now understand the opposition party’s intention?”

“Their (opposition party’s) target is not to stand beside the people. Their objective is to create instability and unrest in the country and to mislead the public,” he added.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury placed the proposed national budget for the 2026–27 fiscal in the Jatiya Sangsad.

Referring to the re-excavation of Patli canal, the prime minister said, “This canal was excavated 50 years ago by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. The re-excavation of this canal now will benefit 40,000 people. About 8,500 farmers will also be benefited. For this reason, we will excavate and re-excavate 20,000 kilometers of canals across the country in the next 5 years.” 

Noting that Bangladesh is an agriculture-based country, he said, “But alongside agriculture, we must develop industry and commerce. If industries and businesses grow, employment opportunities will be created for our children. They will be able to find jobs and engage in business.”

“Therefore, we have increased taxes on imported goods that compete with products already manufactured in Bangladesh. This is to support local producers and industries. Yet this, too, is not acceptable to the opposition party,” Tarique Rahman said.

“I want to say that you are the owners of this country. The ownership of the country does not belong to any political party.  The ownership of the country does not belong to any family. The true owners of the country are the 20 crore people of Bangladesh,” he said.

Stating that the BNP government wants to change the people’s fate, the prime minister said, “We work to change the fate of this country and its people as Bangladesh is the BNP’s first and last destinations” 

“This country belongs to all of us. This country is our first and last destinations. Therefore, we say, if we build this country, we ourselves will live better lives, and our children will live in peace,” he added.

“If we fail to build this country, our children will suffer. Does anyone want their children to suffer? None of us do. That is why we say: Korbo Kaj Gorbo Desh, Sobar Agee Bangladesh (We will work, we will build the nation, Bangladesh comes first),” the premier said.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Water Resources Minister Md Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee, State Minister for Water Resources Forhad Hossain Azad, lawmaker from Cox’s Bazar-3 constituency Lutfur Rahman Kajal and local BNP leader Harunur Rashid spoke on the occasion with Cox’s Bazar Sadar Upazila BNP President Abdul Mabud in the chair.

Earlier, after arriving here from Dhaka by air this morning, the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman inaugurated the re-excavation work of the historic ‘Patli Khal’ (canal) at Pmkhali Union in Sadar Upazila here, which is closely linked to the memory of his father Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.

Braving heavy rain, Tarique Rahman proceeded from the airport to Pmkhali by road and formally launched the programme by cutting soil with a spade. He later planted a date palm sapling on the bank of the canal.

Patli canal is regarded as a historic canal. In November 1979, President Ziaur Rahman visited Pmkhali and he himself inaugurated its excavation work by using a spade. During the visit, he also planted a date palm tree on the canal bank, which still stands as a witness to that historic event 48 years ago.

নিউজওয়ান২৪.কম/গাজী Newsone24.com/Gazi