“Let’s give BNP leaders hurricane lamps to carry”
PM slams BNP protests against govt’s energy-saving load shedding move
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today (August 1, 2022) criticised BNP leaders for their protests against the government's initiative to "save power and energy to protect Bangladesh from future risks".
"BNP leaders are holding demonstrations with hurricane lamps," she observed.
"Let's give them hurricane lamps to carry…" she used a Bangla idiom and added, "Awami League will keep the nation secure."
The prime minister was addressing a blood donation programme as the chief guest marking the first day of the month of mourning, joining virtually from her official Gono Bhaban residence.
Bangladesh Krishak League organised the function on the premises of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 in the capital.
The prime minister said her government has provided electricity to every household across the country and is now taking precautionary measures to save power and energy.
"We're taking measures for saving power and energy to protect Bangladesh from any danger in the future, as even developed countries like the US and UK and neighbouring India are facing difficulties and focusing on saving energy due to the global situation caused by Russia-Ukraine war," she added.
Referring to "wholesale looting" in the power sector during the BNP government, she said her government is taking measures to save energy and not for looting as done during BNP's tenure.
The premier said power generation would have been reduced if her government was involved in looting: "Awami League has maximised the power generation capacity to 24,000 MW."
Power generation reduced to 3000 MW from 43000 MW during the tenure of the BNP government as they were engaged in massive corruption, she said.
Awami League Presidium members Matia Chowdhury and Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque, Joint General Secretary AFM Bahauddin Nasim, Agriculture and Cooperatives Affairs Secretary Faridunnahar Laily, Organising Secretary Advocate Afzal Hossain, and Office Secretary Biplab Barua, spoke on the occasion.
BKL President Samir Chandra presided over the function while its General Secretary Umme Kulsum Smriti moderated it.
At the outset of the programme, a one-minute silence was observed to show due respects to the martyrs of the August 15, 1975 carnage including Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, his wife, three sons and two daughters-in-law.