Tarique Rahman Calls for Public Support While Celebrating Eid
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Dhaka, March 21 (NationPress) Prime Minister Tarique Rahman conveyed his Eid wishes on Saturday, urging citizens to support his administration's vision for a 'desired Bangladesh', as per local news sources.
Speaking to reporters at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, he also requested the public's prayers and backing.
"On this auspicious Eid day, I beseech Almighty Allah to grant us the strength to create the Bangladesh our people envision. With your support, this elected government will strive tirelessly to fulfill your aspirations," UNB reported Tarique.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to those who lost their lives and those injured during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War against Pakistan, as well as to the victims of the mass protests in July 2024.
Earlier, Prime Minister Tarique welcomed members of the diplomatic community, political figures, notable citizens, and people from diverse backgrounds at Jamuna in celebration of the festival.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin and the Prime Minister offered prayers at the main gathering at the National Eidgah in Dhaka.
Eid-ul-Fitr, the most significant religious festival for Muslims, was celebrated throughout Bangladesh on Saturday with great joy and religious devotion. Meanwhile, law enforcement agencies, including the police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab), enhanced security measures to prevent any untoward incidents, according to local media.
In contrast, the opposition and the radical Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami's leader, Shafiqur Rahman, expressed concerns regarding traveler difficulties and inflated fares during the Eid period.
After offering prayers in Mirpur, he remarked that such issues during Eid journeys were unexpected in a 'transformed Bangladesh', labeling fare overcharging as 'inhumane' and a 'crime against humanity'.
He emphasized that everyday individuals, especially those with lower incomes, were facing difficulties while returning to their villages for Eid.
"If the little savings people accumulate throughout the year are spent entirely on travel, the joy of Eid dissipates," The Daily Star reported the Jamaat leader as saying.
Rahman criticized the ministers from the Bangladesh National Party (BNP), characterizing their inability to regulate fares as a national 'embarrassment'. He stated, "It was their responsibility to ensure comfortable and convenient Eid travel, but they have failed to do so."