Local Government, Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives Minister Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan has called upon the leaders and workers of BNP to build up resistance with people against the anti-state campaigners.

"A vested quarter has launched false campaign against the people and the government in a motive to mislead the world community and international organisations," he further told them.

Addressing a party meeting at Thakurgaon Pourashava auditorium on Friday night, he said Bangladesh is a non-communal and liberal democratic country and the people here earned independence and democracy through long struggle.

Presided over by state minister for agriculture and Thakurgaon district BNP President Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir, it was addressed, among others, by district unit general secretary Samaun Haq Samu, district Sramik Dal president Abdul Gafur Bhuiyan, Mohila Dal general secretary Husne Ara Farida, JCD president Rashed Alam Labu, Juba Dal president Anwarul Haq and presidents of all upazila units of the district.

He hoped that the propaganda would not be able to confuse and mislead the people here as well as the international bodies.

Bhuiyan, who is also the secretary general of ruling BNP, said that leaders and activists of BNP would have to play a pioneering role to resist the campaign.

Referring to price-hike of essentials, he said the government is fully aware of the situation and took effective steps to reduce the prices of essentials.

"Prices of commodities have started coming down. Strict measures will be taken if anyone conspires and try to create artificial crisis," he added.

Bhuiyan asked leaders and workers to strengthen the party down the grass root level and work for it with dedication and sincerity.

The minister also inaugurated the newly constructed central bus terminal here. He planted a sapling at the terminal ground.

Later, he addressed a gathering organised by Thakurgaon municipal authority with poura chairman Akbar Hossain in the chair. State Minister for Agriculture Mirza Fakrul Islam Alamgir addressed the function as special guest.

Deputy commissioner (DC) of Thakurgaon Maksumul Hakim Chowdhury, police super (SP) Sohrab Hossain, poura commissioner AKM Shafiul Enam Parvez, Nazrul Islam, transport owners' association general secretary Ramjan Ali and business leader Arshad Ali also spoke.

Bhuiyan asked the authorities to keep the terminal clean and maintain it properly. He said that although the government enhanced 10 per cent (pc) of bus fare, but the owners, in most cases, enhanced the fare by 100 pc. He urged the bus owners to reduce the fare immediately.