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Members of Parliament today said that BNP has never had to seek an apology from the nation, unlike other political parties, as it has consistently stood by the people.
Taking part in the discussion on the motion of thanks on the President's address in the Jatiya Sangsad, lawmakers said parties such as the Awami League and opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami had to apologize to the people before elections for their past actions, while BNP had never faced such a situation.
The session was chaired by Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal.
Regarding opposition activities, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam said that Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, originally founded by Abul A'la Maududi on August 26, 1941, has repeatedly had to apologize to the nation for its mistakes and past actions ahead of national elections.
He noted that despite being active in politics for more than 85 years, the party continues to seek public forgiveness before elections, questioning whether this reflects genuine political practice or credibility as a political organization.
The minister also alleged that the opposition attempted to mislead voters ahead of the most recent national election. However, he said the people were not swayed, which ultimately resulted in the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) securing a two-thirds majority in parliament.
The minister further said that the chief of the Awami League had appealed to voters ahead of the 1996 elections, contrasting this with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which he said has never needed to apologize to the people because it has consistently stood by them.
Describing BNP as an established political party, he said it played a key role in introducing multiparty democracy in the country and was able to spearhead a successful mass uprising after a 17-year struggle against the fallen repressive regime.
He added that the people have given BNP a clear mandate, as the party remains committed to strengthening multiparty democracy, ensuring an accountable government and promoting a responsible parliament.
The first session of the 13th parliament began on March 12, with President Mohammed Shahabuddin delivering his inaugural address. The Business Advisory Committee later allocated 50 hours for discussion on the speech. Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam moved the motion of thanks, which was seconded by Whip Mia Nuruddin Ahmed Apu.
Assuring the public about the implementation of the July Charter, Shaikh Rabiul Alam, also the lawmaker from Dhaka-10, said that since BNP is a signatory to the charter and received 51 percent of the votes, the government is committed to implementing it in line with its pledges.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Asaduzzaman said the primary objective of the current parliament is to build the country in line with the spirit of the 1990s mass uprising and the July 2024 uprising.
Taking part in the discussion, Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md Sakhawat Hossain said that the people have made Tarique Rahman prime minister with the aim of creating a new chapter in the nation's history.
He added, "I feel hurt when I see that a particular party is trying to capitalize on the July mass uprising, which was built over the past seventeen years under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman." He was speaking as a lawmaker from Narsingdi-4.
Cultural Affairs Minister Nitai Roy Chowdhury paid tribute to the memory of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, referring to his role during the Liberation War and his resistance against Pakistani occupation forces following the 'surrender' of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Describing the current legislature as exceptional, Liberation War Affairs Minister Ahmed Azam Khan said the ruling party is working through this parliament to establish a democratic society.
Highlighting its significance, Education and Primary and Mass Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said the present parliament is highly valued, as it has emerged from the sacrifices of people from all walks of life.
Land Minister Mizanur Rahman Minu described Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as a national asset, adding that his leadership has already been praised by international media, making the country proud.
Labour and Employment Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury said that since assuming office, the timely initiatives and close supervision of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman have ensured workers' welfare ahead of Eid ul-Fitr, ultimately contributing to the strengthening of the national economy.
Expressing BNP's commitment to building a prosperous Bangladesh, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Afroza Khanam said the prime minister is working toward that goal and emphasized the need for political consensus to achieve it.
Meanwhile, Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology Fakir Mahbub Anam described the recent fuel loading at the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant as a significant milestone, expressing disappointment that the development had not been discussed in parliament.
While participating in the discussion, Disaster Management and Relief Minister Asadul Habib Dulu reiterated the government's commitment to implementing the long-awaited Teesta Mega Project, aimed at improving the livelihoods of nearly two crore people in the Rangpur region.
Calling for unity, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit urged the opposition to work jointly with the government, saying that unity should not remain only in words. He also remarked that he feels concerned when observing the opposition leader's body language in parliament.
Accusing the opposition of attempting to threaten the government's stability, State Minister for Liberation War Affairs Ishraque Hossain said the current government did not come to power through the elections of 2009, 2014, or 2018, but rather through the mandate of the people.
Referring to the spirit of the July Uprising, State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin said that a particular political party had previously "bankrupted" itself by exploiting the spirit of 1971, and now, according to her, the opposition is attempting to do the same with the spirit of the July Uprising.
Criticizing the opposition's stance, State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Nurul Haque Nur said they are trying to portray BNP as anti-reformist over the implementation of the July Charter. He warned that such behavior could disrupt the proper functioning of the political system.
A number of lawmakers from both treasury and opposition benches also took part in the discussion. BNP lawmakers included Md Amanullah Aman (Dhaka-2), Abul Kair Bhuiyan (Lakshmipur-2), Golam Mohammad Siraj (Bogura-5) and ABM Ashraf Uddin Nizan (Lakshmipur-4).
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/national/1f144545-f9db-6a30-92be-0be7d6e2d326