PM Tarique Rahman’s popularity rising as govt avoids anti-people measures: Rizvi

BNP Acting Secretary General and Prime Minister’s Political Adviser Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed has said that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s popularity is growing as the government has so far avoided taking any measures against public interests.

Rizvi made the remarks on Wednesday (September 2) after inaugurating the second day of a tree-planting programme in Dhaka’s 300 Feet area, organised to mark the 48th founding anniversary of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

He also said the government was working to address the ongoing electricity and gas crisis rather than remaining idle, expressing hope that the situation would return to normal within the next one to one-and-a-half weeks.

“The government is continuing efforts to resolve the crisis from its own position,” Rizvi said.

Explaining the causes of the gas shortage, the BNP leader attributed the disruption partly to global developments, particularly the conflict between the United States and Iran and the resulting closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which he said had disrupted vessel movement. He also cited a technical problem at an LNG terminal in Maheshkhali.

These factors had contributed to lower gas pressure in households and industrial facilities, he said.

Rizvi said the government had allocated Tk 40,000 crore to address the crisis in the energy sector.

On political opposition, he said opposition parties were free to launch movements in the prevailing democratic environment. However, he urged them to act responsibly and present an accurate picture of the government’s performance to the public.

“If their intention is to put the government in trouble, that is a different matter,” he said.

Rizvi also highlighted the government’s tree-planting initiative, saying Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was deeply concerned about climate change and its adverse effects. He said the issue had also been incorporated into the BNP’s election manifesto.

According to Rizvi, the government had pledged to plant 25 crore trees over five years. Although the target for the first six months was 2.5 crore trees, more than 3 crore have already been planted, he claimed.

“There is no alternative to planting more trees to ensure clean oxygen,” Rizvi said.

BNP Joint Secretary General Advocate Abdus Salam Azad, Jubo Dal General Secretary Nurul Islam Nayan, Dhaka North City BNP Member Secretary Mostafa Zaman and Joint Convener ABM Abdur Razzak, among others, were present at the programme.