Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday urged ministers and ruling party lawmakers to exercise restraint in their conduct and public remarks, warning that careless statements or behaviour could undermine the government’s message at a politically sensitive moment.
Speaking at the first meeting of the BNP parliamentary party at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban, Tarique told ministers and members of parliament to remain disciplined in both their speech and actions, particularly when dealing with the media.
He also directed ministers and lawmakers to maintain office hours, follow traffic rules while travelling and practise austerity in their daily conduct.
“Everyone has a specific responsibility -- no one should make comments beyond their assigned duties,” he told lawmakers, according to participants at the meeting.
The meeting, which began at 11:15am and continued until 1:00pm, brought together 209 BNP lawmakers. It marked the first formal gathering of the ruling party’s legislators since the new parliament convened.
The session opened with a welcome speech by Chief Whip Nurul Islam Moni, after which senior leaders addressed the gathering. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the BNP secretary general who now serves as local government minister, spoke alongside Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed.
The prime minister used the meeting to outline the government’s priorities for the coming months, focusing on public welfare programmes and administrative discipline within the cabinet and the parliament.
Among the initiatives he highlighted was the BNP’s election pledge known as the “Family Card” programme, a social assistance scheme aimed at supporting poor households across the country.
“Our Family Card programme was criticised by many. But even before the ink on the voters’ fingers faded, we started implementing our promise. This is BNP. This is the BNP people want to see,” Tarique told lawmakers at the meeting.
The programme would be rolled out in the near future. The government was also preparing to launch a nationwide canal excavation initiative aimed at improving water management.
Tarique also urged the ministers and lawmakers to take steps to improve public cleanliness as the country approaches the dengue season, a recurring health concern during the warmer months.
The prime minister also touched upon the July National Charter, a framework for political reforms that has drawn differing responses from various parties.
Some parties have submitted formal notes of dissent on parts of the charter, but the government would proceed with the sections that are considered implementable, he said.
A total of 133 ordinances were issued during the tenure of the interim government, and under the constitution, they must be placed before parliament at its first session, scheduled to start today.
During the meeting, Tarique also emphasised the importance of discipline within the cabinet, particularly among younger ministers.
While acknowledging the presence of many senior figures in the government, he said newer members of the cabinet must set an example by maintaining regular office hours.
“Younger ministers must reach the office by nine in the morning,” he said, according to attendees.
He also urged ministers to follow traffic rules while travelling to and from work, he said, adding that he himself observes those regulations.
Beyond administrative matters, Tarique called for austerity in daily life, warning that global economic pressures could affect Bangladesh in the coming months.
He pointed specifically to tensions in the Middle East, including the situation involving Iran, the US and Israel, which could cause upheaval in the global economy.
The parliamentary meeting also addressed procedural matters inside the legislature.
Lawmakers agreed to assign Tarique as the leader of the House and the responsibility of selecting the new speaker and deputy speaker of parliament.
Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, the Liberation War Affairs minister, is being preferred for the post of speaker, The Daily Star has learnt from people involved with the deliberations.
For the post of deputy speaker, the party is considering Andaleeve Rahman Partho, Muhammad Nawshad Zamir and Mahbub Uddin Khokon if the opposition declines the BNP’s offer to take the position.
Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Salahuddin Ahmed are in the running for the position of deputy leader of the House.
The formal activities of this parliamentary session will begin with an opening or welcome speech by Tarique. In that speech, he will invite a senior BNP lawmaker to preside over the opening session as per rules given that the speaker and deputy speaker are unavailable. Then, the process of electing the new speaker and deputy speaker will be completed, said BNP Standing Committee Member Salahuddin.
The newly elected speaker and deputy speaker will take the oath before President Mohammed Shahabuddin.
The parliamentary sitting will then resume. During that sitting, the House is expected to elect members to the panel of chairpersons and form key parliamentary bodies, including the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) and other standing committees.
“This session is important and historic for national life -- several historic decisions will be taken,” Salahuddin told journalists after the meeting.
The law minister will place several ordinances promulgated during the tenure of the interim government before the House.
President Shahabuddin will deliver a speech before the House. The BAC will determine the duration and agenda of the session.
