DHAKA, Nov 09, 2024 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today said protection of farmers’ interests will get highest priority if BNP is voted to power.

“We will resume Shaheed Zia’s canal digging programme if we form the government with people’s mandate in future. We will have to do this to facilitate the farmers in their need of water," he said.

Tarique Rahman was virtually addressing as the chief guest the inaugural ceremony of a training programme and discussion of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal at the Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh auditorium in the capital’s Kakrail.

Noting that declining of groundwater level is a concern for the country, he said: "We have to dig canals for many reasons. Shaheed Zia managed water for farming by digging canals as crop production was hampered due to lack of water”.

Due to availability of water, farmers were able to grow two-three corps from a land where usually they could grow one crop during the government tenure of President Ziaur Rahman, he said.
Announcing farmers' rally in every union of the country in the next three months from November 10, BNP acting chairman said Krishak Dal would be organized as agriculture centric.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Vice-Chairman Shamsuzzaman Dudu, Acting General Secretary of Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal Mosharraf Hossain spoke at the discussion with Jatiyatabadi Krishak Dal President Hasan Zafir Tuhin in the chair.

About the current situation of the country, Tarique Rahman said the conspiracy against the country has not stopped yet. Conspiracy cannot be resisted unless democracy is restored and accountability is ensured, he added.

Demanding a fair and neutral election, he underscored the need for ensuring people’s voting rights to resist conspiracies.

“If fair election is held, we will be able to resolve the problem of the country and its people gradually,” he said.

“There is no compromise with neutral election,” he said urging the party men to reach the message to the people of all strata.