Chief Whip Nurul Islam has said true independence lies in people's ability to secure livelihoods, underscoring the importance of ensuring economic rights for ordinary citizens, report agencies.
"True freedom means ensuring people's right to earn their livelihood," he said, adding that a rickshaw puller's right to work, a farmer's right to cultivate land, and fair recognition of their labour are the real essence of independence.
The Chief Whip said this while addressing a programme, organised by Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Dal, at the Jatiya Press Club in the capital on Friday, marking Independence and National Day.
He said people have started to enjoy the benefits of independence after a long democratic struggle and claimed that an example of good governance has been established under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
Nurul Islam said ensuring basic rights of citizens remains the government's top priority. Referring to the tenure of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, he said people experienced better living conditions during that period.
Speaking about post-independence conditions, he alleged that the country had faced severe hardship, including famine and lawlessness. He credited former President Ziaur Rahman with taking charge during a critical period and claimed that his initiatives, such as canal excavation programme, helped overcome food shortages within a few years.
On the July National Charter, the Chief Whip said there will be no tolerance for what he termed 'negative politics' surrounding the issue. He reaffirmed the government's commitment to implementing the charter through a lawful and systematic process.
Criticising opposition parties, he said they have taken inconsistent positions on issues such as local government elections, reforms, and constitutional changes.
He rejected the demand for a proportional representation (PR) system, saying it does not exist in countries like the United States or the United Kingdom.
Nurul Islam also made critical remarks about Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and accused the Awami League of large-scale financial irregularities, while defending Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as a modest and accessible leader committed to reforms, including proposals to limit the tenure of a prime minister to two terms.
He further said Ziaur Rahman introduced multi-party democracy and ensured media freedom, which he claimed contributed to the expansion of media outlets in the country.
The Chief Whip added that Khaleda Zia later took responsibility during another difficult period, leading to improvements in people's living standards and overall development.
Dhaka South City Corporation Administrator Abdus Salam, Ekushey Padak-winning academic Sukumar Barua, and Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Dal President Humayun Kabir, among others, spoke at the programme.
