Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said intelligence reports indicate that the ousted authoritarian regime and a faction of an opposition group are conspiring to create instability in the country.
He made the remarks at a public rally held on the grounds of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Government High School in Rajshahi on the afternoon of October 20. He also urged the public to remain vigilant against attempts to create unrest in the country.
The prime minister said there had been attempts to fuel labour unrest at several factories and industrial establishments, adding that intelligence agencies had information about these incidents. He alleged that the ousted authoritarian regime was providing financial support to a political party from abroad, while another group was attempting to create instability inside the country.
Although the prime minister said the allegations were based on intelligence information, the news report did not provide independently verified evidence to substantiate the claims.
Rahman also outlined government initiatives to reopen closed factories and create employment opportunities. He said six factories had been reopened in Rajshahi district over the past seven months. The government is planning to reopen around 46 more closed factories across the country during the 12-month period from January to December next year.
In the healthcare sector, the government has decided to increase the number of beds at upazila-level hospitals nationwide from 50 to 100 within the next five years. Separate beds for children and women, as well as dialysis facilities for kidney patients, will also be introduced, he said.
During the rally, the prime minister provided Tk 12 crore in financial assistance to 38,970 sugarcane farmers in the Rajshahi region. He transferred the funds to the farmers’ mobile financial accounts electronically and handed cheques to 15 farmers.
The rally was attended by BNP Acting Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu, Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury, BNP Standing Committee member Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and members of parliament from Rajshahi district.
Source: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS)
