Work together with govt to make parliament effective

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman urges opposition MPs to work together with the government to make the newly elected parliament effective, forewarning that any failure of the legislature would ultimately harm Bangladesh and its people.
"I would like to urge everyone: let us debate, argue, engage in dialogue and discussion, and sit together and talk-but under no circumstances should we allow this parliament to fail," he told the House while speaking on the thanksgiving motion on the President's inaugural speech.
It was also the premier's winding-up speech for the first session of the 13th parliament.
In the current context, the Prime Minister says, the country has begun its journey under this parliament with a debt burden of Tk 30 trillion and it would not be possible to move the nation forward without ensuring a stable government and a stable parliament.
He reminds the House that hartal was enforced for 173 days in the past to make the then BNP government fail, which caused significant damage to the country. The impact of that prolonged shutdown is still being felt, with the country continuing to bear its brunt for years, and even decades.
Tarique Rahman agrees with the opposition leader's view that the success of parliament reflects the success of the whole country. "This parliament means the entire Bangladesh. Its success means a prosperous future for the nation."
He notes that in a parliamentary democracy, one party remains in government while another stays in opposition -- and both sides share responsibility for making the system work.
"I have said time and again that the government formed through this parliament must endure and succeed, as its success means moving towards prosperity. I believe this is a unique parliament, unlike any Bangladesh has had in the past," the Prime Minister says.
He reaffirms that his government wants to work together with the opposition in the interest of the country and its people.
"Let us, on both sides, not seek to make each other fail. You and I together make a complete parliament. So, if you fail, I fail; if I fail, you fail. We must remember this. And if any one of us fails, Bangladesh will fail. None of us wants to see a failed Bangladesh," Tarique Rahman urges in his overtures to the opposition coalition.
He says just as post-1971 Bangladesh was built on the blood of martyrs, the present-day Bangladesh and its parliament also stand on the sacrifices of thousands of martyrs.
On the final day of the session, the Prime Minister reaffirms the government's willingness to engage in dialogue with the opposition at any time in national interest.
"We are always ready to sit with the opposition and discuss any issue concerning Bangladesh and its people. Through dialogue, we can move the country forward together and fulfill the expectations of our people. We will do our utmost to fulfill the expectations of the people of this country."
Tarique Rahman defended his government's move to provide family card, farmer card and other such supports, describing the initiative as an investment and saying that it would strengthen the rural economy.
As the opposition leader raised some problems in his constituency, the Leader of the House said he had already instructed the authorities concerned to take steps to address those.
Following the discussion, the thanksgiving motion on the President's speech was passed by voice vote.
Later, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad read out the prorogation order from the President.
The parliament went into its maiden session on March 12, when the President delivered his speech at the beginning.
(Inputs taken from UNB, live coverage)