BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman has said that ensuring fair prices for potatoes is far more important for farmers than spending thousands of crores on a “so-called” referendum.
“Farmers are in deep trouble this year as they are unable to sell potatoes even at half their production cost,” Tarique said while addressing a discussion virtually on Wednesday evening marking the National Revolution and Solidarity Day at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka.
He said, “Holding a so-called referendum to satisfy one political party’s demand would cost the state around Tk 3,000 crore. For farmers, getting a fair price for potatoes is far more important than wasting such a huge amount of money.”
The BNP leader noted that the production and storage cost per kilogram of potatoes stands at Tk 25–27, yet farmers are unable to sell their produce at even half that rate, causing losses amounting to around Tk 3,000 crore.
Tarique also warned that any political party trying to exploit the interim government’s position or undermine the people’s democratic rights could ultimately face disastrous consequences. “If any group thinks it can extract undue advantage by threatening or weakening the interim government, it may backfire on them,” he said.
Calling for restraint, he urged democratic forces to remain vigilant. “Those attempting to destabilize the situation should stop. I also call upon pro-democracy citizens to stay alert,” he added.
Tarique accused several political parties of placing “unrealistic conditions” to hinder the upcoming national election and urged them to face the people in February instead of threatening the interim government.
He also criticized the lack of focus on road safety despite repeated dialogues with the interim administration. “Bangladesh ranks among the top countries in road fatalities, yet road safety seems absent from the government’s discussions,” he remarked.
LDP Chairman Col (retd) Oli Ahmed, speaking at the same event, said, “President Ziaur Rahman began reforms but could not complete them. I urge Tarique Rahman to continue from where his parents left off.”
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir presided over the discussion. Senior BNP leaders including Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Nazrul Islam Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Begum Selima Rahman, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, and Maj (retd) Hafizuddin Ahmed were present.
Leaders of allied parties — including Mostafa Jamal Haider of Jatiya Party (Kazi Zafar), AB Party Chairman Mojibur Rahman Monju, Revolutionary Workers Party General Secretary Saiful Haque, Gonodhikar Parishad General Secretary Rashed Khan, and Labor Party Chairman Mostafizur Rahman Iran — also spoke at the event.
