PM Tarique takes aim at opposition

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Saturday sharply criticised the opposition for rejecting the government’s budget, accusing them of deliberately seeking to destabilise the country, while also declaring that prices of daily essentials have remained stable since the budget was passed.

“The opposition says they do not accept this budget. But this is a budget that cuts taxes and raises prices on alcohol and cigarettes — and even that they refuse to accept.

This makes it clear that their only goal is to create instability in the country,” Rahman said after inaugurating the re-excavation of ‘Patli Khal’ — a canal associated with memories of his father — in Cox’s Bazar’s Sadar Upazila on Saturday.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister defended the budget as fundamentally pro-people.

“The budget includes a commitment to bring healthcare services to every household.

Everything has one goal — serving the people. The people are the owners of this country, not any family, not any party,” he said.

Taking direct aim at opponents of the fiscal plan, Rahman asked: “Those who oppose a budget designed to bring relief to ordinary citizens — can they truly call themselves friends of the people?”

He then made a pointed claim on prices: “Prices of goods rise after every budget.

But after the current government’s budget, the prices of daily necessities have not gone up.”

The Prime Minister also invoked BNP’s broader political mission, saying the party is now focused on nation-building as it has been in the past — but that conspirators had previously blocked the country’s progress.

“For as long as we live, we will work for the development of this country, because Bangladesh is BNP’s first and last address,” he said.

Noting the government’s pace, he added that the administration had begun fulfilling its promises even before the ink on the election results had dried.

Rahman arrived in Cox’s Bazar by a US-Bangla Airlines flight that landed at 10am.

After the canal programme, he proceeded to Dulahazara Safari Park, where he formally launched a nationwide initiative to plant 25 crore trees by planting a nagling sapling at the park’s main gate.

His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, accompanied him and co-signed the park’s memorial book.

Calling on every citizen to participate, Rahman said: “Thinking about your children’s future and keeping in mind that they should be able to breathe freely in a beautiful environment, please plant at least one tree sapling wherever possible.”

He tied the programme to BNP’s pre-election pledge, saying the party had promised a nationwide tree-planting drive before coming to power.

“Our goal is to plant at least 5 crore trees every year — 25 crore over five years.

If we all work together, we can transform Bangladesh’s air into something much cleaner, purer and healthier,” he said.

He also directed Deputy Commissioners to make every effort to turn their respective districts into green sanctuaries.

Besides, soon after reaching Cox’s Bazar from Dhaka, the prime minister went to PMKhali and formally launched the re-excavation programme at around 10:50am.

Forty-eight years ago, in November 1979, then president Ziaur Rahman personally inaugurated the excavation of the canal by cutting earth with a spade.

During the visit, he also planted a date palm tree on the canal bank, which still stands as a reminder of that historic initiative.

Despite heavy rain, Tarique Rahman proceeded to the site and formally inaugurated the re-excavation work by cutting earth with a spade. He also planted an almond sapling on the canal bank.

Home Minister and Cox’s Bazar-1 MP Salahuddin Ahmed, Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Choudhury Anee, State Minister Farhad Hossain Azad, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Rashiduzzaman Millat, State Minister for LGRD Mir Sahe Alam, State Minister for Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs and Land Mir Md Helal Uddin, State Minister for Textiles and Jute Shariful Alam, Cox’s Bazar-3 MP Lutfur Rahman Kajal, Chattogram-10 MP Sayeed Al Noman and Cox’s Bazar Deputy Commissioner Md Abdul Mannan were among others present.

Thousands of people from Patali village and surrounding areas gathered along the canal bank from the morning, braving heavy rain to witness the programme and greet the prime minister.

Patali Canal is regarded as a landmark irrigation project launched during Ziaur Rahman’s rule.

Earlier, the prime minister and his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, reached in Cox’s Bazar at around 9:50am by air.

After inaugurating the re-excavation work, Tarique Rahman went onto a temporary stage beside the canal and waved to the crowd, exchanging greetings with local residents.