Prime minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday that if a division named Cumilla was the demand of the people of this region, it will be implemented.
‘If a division named Cumilla is the demand of the people of this region, it will be implemented. The BNP government will fulfil all public demands gradually,’ said the prime minister, announcing that a new administrative division would be formed in the name of Cumilla.
He made the announcement at a roadside rally at Lakshmipur Bazar under Barura in the district amid repeated slogans from party leaders and activists, demanding Cumilla division.
He also said that the government would discuss with the education ministry soon regarding the issue of establishing an agricultural university in Cumilla.
Agriculture minister Amin Ur Rashid Yasin raised the demands for Cumilla division and an agricultural university on behalf of the people of the district during the rally.
Party leaders and activists welcomed the proposals with loud applause.
Housing and public works minister and local lawmaker Zakaria Taher Sumon also demanded upgrading the district hospital from 150 beds to 250-300 beds, alongside the formation of the proposed division.
The prime minister addressed the rally while travelling to Chandpur on a day-long visit to attend several programmes.
Tarique, also the chairman of ruling BNP, said that his party always worked to implement the commitments it made to the people after coming to power.
Referring to the February 12 election, the prime minister said that people elected BNP to power as the rightful owners of the state.
Calling for united efforts to rebuild the country, Tarique Rahman said, ‘Everyone must work from their respective positions to make people self-reliant and build the country with united efforts.’
In Chandpur, the prime minister addressed a public gathering at sadar upazila, where he inaugurated the re-excavation of Bishwa Khal canal at Kumarduli village.
He also addressed a Family Card distribution programme at the Chandpur Government College ground.
He said that the people of the country would resist any attempt to obstruct the implementation of the government’s election pledges.
‘If anyone tries to obstruct this work (implementation of polls pledges) or derail it, we do not need to do anything—people of Bangladesh themselves will defeat their plan and their conspiracy, I believe,’ he said.
He said that the government has already started several development programmes, including canal excavation, family cards, farmer cards, financial support for imams and muezzins and tree plantation drives as per BNP’s election promises.
The prime minister said that these initiatives have received public support following the 12th general election. ‘Today, in front of thousands of people, I want to clearly say that the support we have received from people will guide us. We will implement those tasks one by one and we will carry out those plans step by step.’
However, Tarique alleged that some vested quarters have been spreading confusion about these programmes.
He urged everyone to stay alert so that development projects were not disrupted due to plots by any quarter.
‘The government is committed to improving the lives of common people, especially farmers, women, religious workers and the unemployed,’ Tarique said and called on everyone to unite in a pledge, saying that the implementation of these programmes would help improve the lives of people in the country.
Tarique also urged everyone to remain alert and aware, and not to fall into the traps of those who spread confusion.
Tarique also said all employment generation programmes for the unemployed must be protected from any form of disruption.
He said, ‘The main goal before his government is one and clear — to rebuild the country and improve the lives of its people, and that work has already begun.’
He also said that as long as people continued to support the government, it would keep working for people and for the country without moving even a single step away from that commitment.
‘Let us all, from today’s canal re-excavation programme, take a pledge together — that this country is ours. It was made independent in 1971 through the sacrifices and struggle of our freedom fighters. Now it is our responsibility to build this country,’ the prime minister said.
He said that at different times, the rights of the people were ignored, but the people of Bangladesh had shed their blood to establish their rights.
‘Now is the time for nation-building, now is the time to rebuild the country. Now, together, we will build our beloved motherland as per the desire of the people,’ Tarique said.
He also urged people to remain alert to what he described as attempts by vested interests to spread confusion in the name of politics.
‘A section is trying to spread confusion in the name of politics. If anyone wants to create confusion in the name of politics, if anyone wants to create anarchy in the name of politics, will you remain silent? None of us will remain silent,’ he said.
Drawing a comparison with the War of Independence, he said that just as the country had achieved independence in 1971, the 2024 mass uprising freed the nation from autocratic rule. ‘And now it is time to rebuild the country and change people’s lives.’
‘We must remain alert so that no one can obstruct this politics. We say ‘we will work and build the country, Bangladesh first’. Let this be our pledge at today’s rally. Let us move forward with the politics for building the country and changing people’s lives in the days ahead,’ he said.
