BNP acting Secretary General and the prime minister’s political adviser, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, has called on the opposition to offer proposals in parliament to resolve the gas and power crisis, rather than threatening street agitation. He made the call while speaking as chief guest at the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected executive committee of the Bangladesh Nrityashilpi Sangstha, held Friday at the National Theatre Hall of Shilpakala Academy in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.
Addressing the opposition, the BNP acting secretary general said: “Go ahead and hold a long march, launch programs over gas and electricity — that’s fine. But give us an alternative. Tell us how we should supply gas and electricity, where we should get it from, and how.”
He said the opposition should present a plan for what steps could address the current crisis. “Opposition members have the opportunity to speak in parliament,” he said. “Criticizing the government and holding programs outside parliament is a normal part of democracy, but offering advice on tackling the crisis is also necessary.”
Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said: “I don’t think it would be right to create a deliberate deadlock. Instead, a plan should be offered on how to resolve this crisis. If the past repeats itself, the situation will move further into darkness.”
Noting that the gas and power crisis stems from the global war and disruptions to the energy supply chain, he said obstacles to energy transport through the Strait of Hormuz have created a shortage in essential energy imports — a situation not caused by any fault of the government’s own.
Highlighting the role of songs and dance in the July movement, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said such cultural performances had inspired enthusiasm and courage among the protesters.
Presided over by Bangladesh Nrityashilpi Sangstha president Farhana Baby, the event’s special guests included State Minister for Road Transport and Railways Habibur Rashid Habib; BNP cultural affairs secretary Ashraf Uddin Ujjal; poet Rezauddin Stalin; actor Helal Khan; and Zakir Hossain Rukon, among others. The organization’s newly elected executive committee members were then formally inducted.