Some parties and individuals are exploiting power and gas crises to create anarchy, PM says

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has warned that attempts to turn power and gas shortages into political unrest will meet the force of the law.

Speaking at a discussion in Dhaka marking the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s 48th founding anniversary, Rahman accused some political parties and individuals of exploiting problems inherited by his government. He said they were creating confusion in an effort to produce anarchy in the country.

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We are trying to resolve all the problems we inherited, whether from the authoritarian regime or the interim government.

“We are trying to resolve all the problems we inherited, whether from the authoritarian regime or the interim government,” he said. Rahman acknowledged that shortages in electricity and fuel were causing hardship for people and industry, and apologised to those affected.

“But we are noticing that some political parties and individuals are trying in different ways to create confusion by exploiting these problems, and through this confusion they are trying to create anarchy in the country,” he said.

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But we are noticing that some political parties and individuals are trying in different ways to create confusion by exploiting these problems, and through this confusion they are trying to create anarchy in the country.

Rahman said the government would uphold the democratic process and democratic principles, but warned that everyone must remain within their limits. “If anyone wants to create anarchy, the law of the country clearly sets out how to control such anarchy,” he said. “Therefore, as a government, and not just as a government but as a government elected by the people, I want to make it clear that everyone needs to remain within their respective limits.”

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If anyone wants to create anarchy, the law of the country clearly sets out how to control such anarchy.

He said the BNP had inherited a fragile economy and weak health, education and communications systems after taking office. The energy crisis, he said, was the country’s most urgent problem. The government has adopted an action plan to address it and prepare Bangladesh for possible future global disruptions.

Rahman also said the government did not want to use the problems left by the previous regime or the interim government merely as excuses. “We do not want to simply cite these problems as excuses. Rather, we want to present the reality to the people and at the same time take measures so that people do not have to face such problems in the future,” he said.

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We do not want to simply cite these problems as excuses. Rather, we want to present the reality to the people and at the same time take measures so that people do not have to face such problems in the future.