Information and State Minister Yaser Khan Chowdhury has issued a stern warning to opposition parties, urging them to refrain from activities that could pave the way for the resurgence of fascist forces in the country.
Speaking during a discussion on the motion of thanks on the President’s speech in the National Parliament on Sunday (April 26), the State Minister emphasized the need for stability and cautioned against political brinkmanship.
Addressing his personal political background, Minister Chowdhury expressed profound gratitude toward BNP founder and late President Ziaur Rahman. “I personally express my deep gratitude and respect to the late President Ziaur Rahman. His ideals, honesty, and visionary leadership have inspired me in politics,” he stated. He added that his family remains eternally indebted to the Zia family for the guidance that allowed him to follow in his father’s footsteps and represent the people in parliament.
Reflecting on his constituency, Mymensingh-9 (Nandail), the Minister reaffirmed his dedication to the voters who elected him. “The soil and people of Nandail are the main source of my strength. Keeping the trust of the people is my primary duty,” he asserted. He highlighted the urgent need for infrastructure development in his region, specifically noting the poor condition of 1,250 kilometers of rural roads, and called upon the relevant ministry to take remedial action.
Highlighting the current government’s approach, Minister Chowdhury noted that their electoral mandate was built upon a manifesto derived from the Prime Minister’s “thoughtful vision,” rather than populist rhetoric. He lauded the government’s decision to abolish VIP movement protocols on roads, noting that the Prime Minister herself now adheres to traffic signals, thereby reducing public inconvenience.
The Minister took a sharp stance against the opposition, warning them against creating conditions that could destabilize the nation. “Do not engage in actions that could invite fascism back into Bangladesh,” he warned. He drew parallels to the fall of the previous government, reminding the assembly that political shortsightedness and corruption ultimately led to their ouster, cautioning that similar consequences await any party that fails to act responsibly.
Regarding the ‘July National Charter’—an agreement signed at the South Plaza of the National Parliament—the Minister pledged full implementation. However, he cautioned against treating the charter as a tool for personal or partisan gain.
“Just as it was a mistake for the Awami League to treat the 1971 Liberation War as its sole property, it would be self-destructive for anyone to treat the July Charter as a party document,” Chowdhury remarked. “It is a charter for the people.”
Finally, the State Minister urged for an end to unnecessary debates regarding the number of martyrs from the July movement. “There is still much debate surrounding the events of 1971; we do not want a new controversy emerging about July 50 or 100 years from now,” he stated.
Minister Chowdhury concluded by calling for constructive political discourse, urging opposition parties to move beyond “opposition for the sake of opposition” and to focus on the collective future of the nation rather than crafting new narratives of conspiracy.
