Water Resources Minister Shahiduddin Chowdhury Anee said that the people have entrusted the BNP with the responsibility of running the country. If the opposition launches movements, national- and local-level development will be hindered. Cooperation from the opposition is needed to rebuild Bangladesh in a new way, he added.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at an exchange meeting with beneficiaries of the “B-STRONG” project of the Social Development Foundation (SDF) in the South Durgapur area of Digli Union under Chandraganj upazila of Lakshmipur on Friday afternoon.

Anee said: “We fought against Hasina for 17 years. We suffered as a result. The country also suffered extensively from the oppression and repression carried out by Hasina. Together, we fought to protect the country and democracy. Now our task is to safeguard this achievement and rebuild the country in a new way. For this, cooperation from the opposition is needed.”

He further said that the opposition had carried out a long march and was again talking about launching a movement. “If Bangladesh remains in a state of constant political agitation, there’ll be no development in local areas. Such movements are harmful to the areas as well as to the country,” he said.

Criticising the opposition’s movement, he said, “An attempt is being made to hold the BNP hostage through political agitation. They believe that if they launch a movement, the BNP, Tarique Rahman and the ministers and MPs will become weak. Taking advantage of that situation, they expect the people will be forced to vote for them and bring them to power. We can’t allow them that opportunity. So everyone must remain united and work together in the field.”