United News of Bangladesh

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku on Friday warned that the government will take strict action against extortionists, regardless of their political affiliation. “No compromise will be made to anyone involved in extortion or crime, and strict action will be taken against them, no matter which party they belong to,” he said on Saturday at a views-exchange meeting at Sirajganj Deputy Commissioner’s office. Tuku said the government is committed to fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people. Highlighting the Prime Minister’s emphasis on youth participation in the cabinet, he said young leaders will now play a greater role than elders in bringing qualitative changes to the country. He urged officials to perform their duties with honesty, efficiency and dedication, stressing that people want to see results, not just words. The minister said every ministry and department has been instructed to implement a 180-day development programme. “My ministry is adopting 180 programmes. All district departments should prepare and submit their own 180-day plans,” he said. Tuku also called for quick steps to deliver on election promises, maintaining the quality of development activities, and working  collectively to create a truly development-oriented society by moving beyond traditional methods.

Jatiya Sangsad Deputy Speaker and Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights Chair Shamsul Haque Tuku has said it is urgent to form a cross-sector body to protect children's rights – especially that of street children. He was speaking as chief guest at a seminar, organised by Dhaka Ahsania Mission and Scan Bangladesh, in Dhaka Sunday. "The child who is born today is the owner of the state and does not belong to the street. With an increase in population, the number of street children is growing. The government is working to develop street children as human resources," Tuku said. Read: Dipu Moni urges Dhaka University to adopt an academic master plan Dhaka Ahsania Mission Vice-President Professor Dr Kazi Shariful Alam said the main challenge is to bring every child into the mainstream. Scan Bangladesh General Secretary Moniruzzaman Mukul, who presented the concept of a cross-sector body, said: "The number of street children in the country is about 15 lakh now. And 85 percent of these children are addicted to drugs, and 80 percent are struggling for food while 46 percent are victims of sexual abuse and exploitation."  

BNP on Monday alleged that while people in the flood-affected northeast region have been crying for food and medicines, the party is being obstructed from carrying out relief efforts by the ruling party and law enforcers. “The air in the country’s Sylhet, Mymensingh and Rangpur divisions has become heavy with cries of the flood victims, but the government’s assistance for them is extremely inadequate,” said party standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku. Speaking at a press conference at BNP Chairperson’s Gulshan office, he called upon all to come forward to serve humanity rising above politics at this bad time in the country. Also read: BNP for permanent solution to recurring floods in Sylhet region As a party of people, the Tuku said BNP has already stood by the flood-hit people in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Kishoreganj, Feni, Netrokona and Kurigram. He bemoaned that the ruling party activists and police have been obstructing the BNP leaders and activists from distributing relief materials among the flood victims. Tuku, the convener of BNP’s relief committee, said people in the flood-hit areas are starving for lack of food and they are suffering from various diseases for lack of treatment and medicines. “At this time, they (AL activists) are impeding the distribution of relief materials by BNP. They are attacking our preparatory meeting on relief distribution with sticks and firearms, injuring our leaders and workers while police are foiling our programmes,” he said. The BNP leader said people are venting their anger by saying that they are not getting relief from the government. Apart from relief, he said people are facing an acute shortage of medicines due to the outbreak of the water-borne disease. “Skin diseases are now seriously spreading in the flood-hit Haor areas. For lack of medicine, flood victims are applying turmeric and kerosene oil to their bodies. I saw it with my own eyes. It can’t be understood the real scenario without visiting the areas. The situation there is terrible there,” Tuku observed. He said the government is not giving attention to the sufferings of the flood victims. “The welfare of the people is no longer the goal of this regime. Their focus is on mega projects from where they make a hefty profit.” Also read: BNP blames govt for fresh spike in Covid cases The BNP leader claimed that their party leaders and activists have already helped over one lakh flood-hit families with relief materials and in various ways, including moving the victims to flood shelters, providing treatment, medicines, making houses and giving the farmers seeds. “We’ve continued these activities.”