A quarter is trying to spread confusion over nation-building, PM says at Rangpur temple visit
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said a quarter is trying to create confusion on the path to building a Bangladesh of unity and harmony. Noting that attempts are also being made to spread confusion surrounding the mass uprising, he called on that quarter to step back from such attempts.
He made the remarks on Tuesday (20 October) at 12 noon while visiting the Dharmadas Radhagobind Temple in Rangpur on Nabami, the ninth day of the Sharodiya Durga festival. The temple visit outside the capital was the central part of his Puja-day programme.
The prime minister said the current government is working tirelessly to ensure peace and security for the people. He sought everyone's cooperation in building the Bangladesh of coexistence that the people expect.
On Rangpur's development, he said Tk 1,800 crore had already been allocated two weeks ago for the development of the long-neglected Rangpur City Corporation. The BNP government is therefore determined to develop Rangpur, he said.
Not just the city corporation — through the district council, visible development work on bridges, culverts and roads will also be carried out in remote areas of the district's various upazilas, the prime minister said. The announcement gave rural infrastructure importance beyond city-centred development.
The prime minister said the BNP government is determined to change the course of past politics and establish welfare-oriented politics. He expressed resolve that the government will keep working to fulfil the people's expectations and build a safe and harmonious Bangladesh for all.
Drawing on history, he said that in the great Liberation War of 1971 everyone fought shoulder to shoulder regardless of religion or caste to free the country, where there was no division. In the street movement of the 2024 mass uprising too, there was no division of religion or caste among students and the public.
Holding on to these lessons of the past, the prime minister expressed resolve to work towards building the expected Bangladesh in the days ahead. His speech presented both the Liberation War and the mass uprising as foundations of unity.
During the visit, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman handed over a cheque of Tk 10 lakh as a donation for the development of the Dharmadas Radhagobind Temple. Handing the cheque to the temple authorities brought the formal part of the visit to a close.
Later, at 1pm, he walked some distance in front of the temple, waving to greet the people waiting on both sides of the road. Crowds had gathered on both sides of the road to catch a glimpse of the prime minister and return his greeting.
He then left by special bus for Saidpur Airport in Nilphamari. From there he is scheduled to fly to visit several Puja temples in Rajshahi, so the Puja visit programme continues beyond the Rangpur leg.
Accompanying the prime minister on the temple visit in Rangpur outside the capital were BNP Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, Relief and Disaster Management Minister Asadul Habib Dulu, State Minister for Local Government Mir Shah Alam, and local district and metropolitan BNP leaders.
All in all, in this Rangpur visit the prime minister delivered three messages at once — a call to build a Bangladesh of harmony, a warning to step back from attempts to spread confusion, and a promise of major allocation for the development of neglected Rangpur.
