‘Stay within the limits’

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has warned political parties and individuals to “stay within the limits,” accusing some of using Bangladesh’s power and gas crises to create confusion and anarchy.

Speaking at a discussion marking the BNP’s 48th founding anniversary in Dhaka, Rahman said his government was trying to resolve problems inherited from both the previous authoritarian regime and the interim government. He acknowledged that people were suffering across several sectors, but said some political forces were exploiting that hardship.

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Could it be that those who remained hidden under the authoritarian regime are now, from within that hidden network, trying to incite this anarchy?

“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.

Rahman said the government would defend the democratic process and make every effort to maintain democratic principles and ethics. But he added that the law provided means to control anyone seeking to create anarchy, stressing that the government was elected by the people.

He said the BNP had inherited a fragile economy and weak health, education and communication systems. He apologised to people facing electricity and fuel shortages, calling the energy crisis the country’s most immediate problem.

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I apologise on behalf of the party to all those who are suffering from the shortage of electricity and fuel.

The prime minister said the government did not want to use those problems as excuses. It would explain the reality to the public while taking steps to prevent similar difficulties in the future, he said. The BNP has already adopted an action plan for the energy crisis, although Rahman acknowledged that both preparing and implementing such a plan would require time.

He also urged nationalist forces and BNP leaders and activists to remain alert to what he called conspiracies and to inform the public. Rahman questioned whether people who had remained hidden during the authoritarian regime were now operating through a hidden network to incite unrest, and said such forces could be working to bring authoritarianism back to the forefront.

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Everyone needs to remain within their respective limits.