Prime Minister Tarique Rahman yesterday urged the BNP leaders and activists to stand by the helpless people of the country.
“Today [yesterday] is the 45th martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. Those of you who have been associated with the party for a long time know that since the martyrdom of Shaheed Zia, we have tried to stand by the helpless people on this day,” he said.
“I appeal to you, not only on behalf of the party but also on your personal initiative, to stand by the helpless people as much as you can. This is the lesson of Shaheed Zia,” said the prime minister.
He made these remarks at an event after distributing clothes and dry food items among the poor and destitute on the occasion of the martyrdom anniversary of BNP founder and former president Ziaur Rahman at the party’s central office in Naya Paltan.
Tarique said, “Let us take this oath that we will try from our respective positions so that we can extend our helping hands to the helpless people according to our ability... Let this be our expectation on this day, let this be our success.”
Earlier, while speaking at a function at Jod Pukur ground in Khilgaon, the prime minister asked the city dwellers to come forward to make Dhaka city free from pollution and waste.
“...we who live in Dhaka, we who are citizens of Bangladesh, this is our country, this is our city. This must be understood,” he added.
“Of course, the city corporations will do their work. The cleaning workers of the city corporations are working; they are cleaning. But we all have a responsibility to reduce the amount of garbage we produce. Then the city will remain as clean as possible,” Tarique said.
Stressing the importance of keeping Dhaka clean, the premier said, “If this city is clean, the environment will be better for us, just as it will be easier for you to walk. Similarly, it will be easier for the cleaning workers to keep the city cleaner.”
“Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman showed us how we will build the country through works. We, as a political party, will try from our position; the government will try to increase the number of affluent people by adopting various plans and programmes, create employment, and try to solve this problem through various programmes,” he said.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Joint Secretary General Habib-Un-Nabi Khan Sohel, Dhaka South city Convener Rafiqul Alam Majnu, Dhaka North Convener Aminul Haque, Dhaka South city corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, and Dhaka North City Corporation Administrator Md Safiqul Islam Khan were present, among others.
