Mahdi Amin Highlights Citizen-Centric Reforms on Government’s 180-Day Milestone

Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Spokesperson Mahdi Amin today said that extensive public engagement and implementation of electoral pledges are the major achievements of the government within its first 180 days.

“During the past six months, whenever the Prime Minister travelled anywhere across the country as part of numerous public engagement programmes, people have turned out in huge numbers. Carrying the people’s trust and confidence, our government has consistently moved forward with a sense of responsibility and accountability to the people,” he said.

Mahdi Amin, also an adviser to the Prime Minister, made the remarks while presenting an overview of the activities and achievements of the Tarique Rahman-led government over its first 180 days at a views exchange meeting at the PMO in the city’s Tejgaon area this noon.

He said one of the most notable aspects of the government’s first six months was its continued efforts to implement every commitment made in the election manifesto.

“We’ve seen how strong democratic values have been reflected in every activity of the government during these six months,” the PMO spokesperson added.

He said the government had demonstrated the highest level of commitment to freedom of expression, rule of law and human rights, while there was no incident of political repression during this period.

“Over the past six months, we have witnessed the highest level of freedom of expression. At times, it crossed the limits, provocation took place and indecent behaviour was seen. Yet the people’s government has moved forward with the utmost patience and tolerance,” Mahdi Amin said.

He said the government has been carrying forward the democratic values established by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman.

Referring to parliament’s activities, Mahdi Amin said the country had witnessed a vibrant and spontaneous parliament during the past six months, where lawmakers engaged in discussions and criticism of one another and presented different issues logically.

He said more than 100 ordinances were converted into laws during the first session of parliament after the formation of the government, describing it as unprecedented in the country’s history and an effort to reflect the aspirations of the July mass uprising.

“By converting the amended anti-terrorism ordinance into a law in parliament, a terrorist political organization that established fascism has been institutionally banned,” the PMO spokesperson added.

Highlighting 10 major areas of the government’s people-oriented and multifaceted activities during the 180 days, Mahdi Amin said these included unprecedented public support, strong democratic values, implementation of electoral pledges, success in addressing domestic and global challenges, inclusive development, improving the fates of people from all walks of life, financial sector reforms, stability in law and order and establishment of justice, infrastructure development, environmental protection and sustainable development, protection of national sovereignty and a dignified foreign policy, as well as the Prime Minister’s distinctive and multifaceted leadership.

Analyzing various aspects of the government’s first 180 days, he said it would be difficult to solve all problems completely within just six months while rebuilding Bangladesh from the ruins left after 16 years of fascism.

“However, one thing can be said with certainty today: in every sector, under the leadership of the Honourable Prime Minister, this elected, transparent and accountable government has the utmost sincerity, commitment and sense of responsibility,” the PMO spokesperson said.

“Together, we will embrace that democratic aspiration and build a prosperous, self- reliant, humane, safe, merit-based, and public welfare-oriented Bangladesh, InShaAllah,” he said, adding, “The people are the only source of power and inspiration for this government, which was elected through the direct votes of the people. In the true sense, this is a government of the people.”

Highlighting the Prime Minister’s distinctive leadership, Mahdi Amin said, “In this Bangladesh, Honorable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has already completely broken the so-called VIP culture and placed himself among ordinary people.”
 
“We’ve seen him repeatedly going to grassroots people, taking up a spade to participate in canal excavation programmes and affectionately holding young schoolchildren in his arms,” he added.

“We have witnessed his very simple and frugal lifestyle. Overall, after a long time, today we have got a government that every person in the country holds in their hearts with deep emotion, feeling and love,” Mahdi Amin said.

Prime Minister’s Press Secretary AAM Saleh Shibly moderated the meeting while Prime Minister’s advisers Nazrul Islam Khan, Md Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and Md Ismail Zabihullah, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon, Prime Minister’s Adviser Dr Zahed Ur Rahman and Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Ruman also spoke. Later, Prime Minister’s advisers and cabinet members present at the event answered different questions from journalists.

State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Mir Shahe Alam, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Yasser Khan Choudhury, Adviser for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir, Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Affairs S M Ziauddin Hyder and SDG Chief Coordinator Professor SM Abdul Awal were also present.

Among others, Prime Minister’s Political Assistant Rashed Khan, Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farzana, Principal Information Officer (PIO) Syed Abdal Ahmed, Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) Secretary General Kader Gani Chowdhury, Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) General Secretary Khurshid Alam, Managing Director of the Bangladesh Journalist Welfare Trust Mohammad Abdul Basir (Basir Jamal), Prime Minister’s Speech Writer Mahfuzur Rahman, Deputy Press Secretaries Jahidul Islam Rony, Md. Suzauddhowla and Shahadat Shadhin, and Assistant Press Secretaries Asrofa Emdad, KM Nazmul Haque and Abdullah Al Mahmud Shahriar were present at the programme.