Long march consumed huge fuel oil amid crisis: State Minister

State Minister for Textiles and Jute Md Shariful Alam has said that collaborators of fascism, taking advantage of the long march, are holding processions in various areas and have begun efforts to destabilise the country. In this situation, the public must remain united.

He made these remarks at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the academic building of Tahmina Mosleh Uddin High School in the Gochamara area of Shimulkandi union in Kishoreganj's Bhairab upazila on Saturday morning, September 12.

Regarding the opposition's long march, Shariful Alam said the people have given the government responsibility for five years. But what has happened in six months that warrants a long march? During the current crisis, a huge amount of fuel oil was consumed in the long march.

The state minister said the oil and gas crisis has been inherited, and the government acknowledges this. However, the government is working to resolve the problem permanently. He said efforts are being made to pull down the government within six months through the long march. People may face temporary hardship, but they will not be misled.

He said the government is working, and through this it will be proven what Tarique Rahman's government is doing for the people.

Noting that they came to power with a mandate from the people, Shariful Alam said if they fail to meet the people's demands, the people themselves will give the answer in the days ahead.

Regarding the development of the school, the state minister said it is impossible to understand the plight of an educational institution in the Gochamara area near the municipality without coming inside. Alongside the dilapidated building, the school also lacks a playground.

He said the foundation stone of the academic building of Tahmina Mosleh Uddin High School was laid as part of the government's election manifesto and commitments. A one-storey building on a four-storey foundation will be constructed at a cost of Tk 1.29 crore.

Earlier in the morning, the state minister attended the ceremony at the school premises as chief guest and laid the foundation stone of the building. Later, around 12:30pm, he inaugurated the construction work of a road from behind Bhairab Highway Police Station to Stadium Mor at a cost of Tk 1.56 crore under the Urban Governance and Infrastructure Improvement Project of the Local Government Engineering Department.

At noon, Shariful Alam attended a reception ceremony for meritorious students at the upazila parishad auditorium, presided over by Upazila Executive Officer KM Mamunur Rashid. Crests and saplings of fruit and timber trees were handed over to 162 students who succeeded in the Primary and Ebtedayi scholarship examinations.

Assistant Superintendent of Police of Bhairab Circle Abu Musa Sheikh, Bhairab Upazila BNP President Md Rafiqul Islam, General Secretary Md Ariful Islam, Bhairab Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahbubur Rahman, Municipal BNP General Secretary and former VP Md Mujibur Rahman, Upazila Education Officer Siddikur Rahman, Upazila BNP Organising Secretary and former VP Saiful Haque, among leaders from various levels, were present at the event.