BNP acting secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi today expressed hope that normal gas supply across the country would be restored by the first or second week of September.

“Normal gas supply will be ensured by the first or second week of September. We can also see some signs that electricity supply will be available,” he told reporters after paying tribute at the graves of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and party Chairperson Khaleda Zia at Zia Udyan, marking the party’s 48th founding anniversary.

Referring to the ongoing power and energy crisis, Rizvi said it was not created by the BNP or the government but resulted from the global situation, including the US-Iran conflict and disruptions to fuel-carrying vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

He said the government was taking steps to address the crisis and had allocated an additional Tk 40,000 crore for the power and energy sectors.

A technical fault at the LNG terminal in Maheshkhali had also been repaired and regasification resumed, he added.

Rizvi said people generally accepted crises when they were not created by the government and when they saw sincerity in efforts to resolve them.

The current government is showing the highest level of sincerity in tackling the crisis, he said.

The BNP leader said the government was also working to fulfil its election pledges, including introducing the Farmers’ Card and Family Card and providing allowances for imams and muezzins.

He said commitments outlined in the BNP’s 31-point reform plan, election manifesto and Khaleda Zia’s Vision 2030 were also being implemented.

Asked about the relationship between the BNP and the government, Rizvi said the party and the government had separate roles, but the responsibility for running the country rested with the BNP and its alliance.

“The party is in its place, and the government is in its place. But the responsibility of running the government lies with the BNP and the BNP alliance,” he said.

Rizvi said there was no contradiction in ministers retaining organisational responsibilities, arguing that they could perform party duties alongside their government responsibilities.

Asked whether the BNP faced a challenge in maintaining its popularity after coming to power, Rizvi said crises could arise even when a government worked honestly.

He said people would judge whether a crisis was created by the government or the party and how sincerely it worked to address it.

Earlier in his speech, Rizvi highlighted the political roles of Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda Zia and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

He credited Ziaur Rahman with restoring multi-party democracy and expanding employment opportunities through overseas migration, while describing Khaleda Zia’s movement against military rule as a struggle to restore democracy.

Rizvi said Tarique Rahman led the BNP while Khaleda Zia was imprisoned and organised the party from the grassroots to the national level.

Referring to the July Uprising and the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, he said the BNP had returned to power through a free and fair election and was now working to fulfil its commitments to the people.