STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said the BNP would definitely implement the July charter and warned that any attempt to obstruct the government’s public welfare programmes would be resisted with the people’s support.

“We must stay alert; we must be cautious [about] the ghosts of autocracy, upon whom a shadow is being slowly cast again... who are once more trying to create anarchy in the country,” the BNP chairman said at a public meeting held at the Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University campus in Tangail yesterday afternoon.

“The people of Bangladesh have given BNP the responsibility to run the country. The day BNP signed the July charter, others also signed it. We have seen that those who are now in the opposition were initially confused about whether they should sign or not. And there is another party with them. They did not sign at that time. We saw them go and suddenly sign it quickly after the election.

“BNP signed first. Those who shouted loudly for the July charter after the election, we can ask them, ‘If you cared so much, why did you not sign first?’” he said.

Tarique said, “I have said before, and I am making it clear again. BNP has signed the July charter, and it will implement it. There will be no change in this. But those who try to obstruct BNP’s canal digging, Family Card, Farmers’ Card, programmes to create professional players, and other public programmes, the BNP will resist them with the people.”

He said, “We may disagree on some issues, that is not a problem. But those disagreements must be solved through discussion. You will make your point and I will give my logic. If your logic is correct, I will accept it.”

The BNP chairman said, “We carry this country in our hearts. We have no other address besides this country. Since this Bangladesh is our identity and our last shelter, we must build this country ourselves.”

Before making these remarks at the campus, Tarique inaugurated the Farmers’ Card pre-pilot programme at Tangail’s Shaheed Maruf Stadium, where several thousand farmers and party leaders and supporters gathered.

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