Chief Whip of Jatiya Sangsad Nurul Islam Moni spoke as the chief guest at a programme organized by the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Dal at the National Press Club. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, April 3, 2026 (BSS) – Chief Whip of Jatiya Sangsad Nurul Islam Moni today said that true freedom means restoring the people's right to livelihood and ensuring that the labor of the working class is properly valued.

“Freedom is defined by a rickshaw puller's right to earn and a farmer's right to cultivation. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the government’s primary objective is to ensure these fundamental rights and establish a model of good governance,” he said.

Nurul Islam made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a programme organized by the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Dal at the National Press Club in the city, said a press release.

About the political situation, Nurul Islam said that no mal-politics regarding the ‘July Charter’ would be tolerated. 

He reaffirmed that Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman are committed to implementing every letter of the July Charter through a systematic and legal process.

He criticized the opposition for frequently changing their demands—ranging from local government elections to constitutional reforms—noting their previous call for a Proportional Representation (PR) system. 

He argued that such systems do not exist in major democracies like the United States or England and asserted that elections cannot be delayed under the pretext of unreasonable demands.

The Chief Whip contrasted the current administration with historical periods, alleging that Awami League had previously laundered Taka 27 lakh crore trillion from the country. 

In contrast, he described Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as an austere leader who has introduced farmer and family cards and proposed a two-term limit for the office of Prime Minister. 

He further highlighted the current state of press freedom, noting that citizens can now create satirical cartoons of the Prime Minister without fear of reprisal.

Reflecting on history, Nurul Islam credited Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman for restoring law and order, introducing multi-party democracy, and ending food shortages through his canal-digging programme, which eventually led to food exports to Senegal. 

He also attributed the country’s past economic improvements to the tenure of Begum Khaleda Zia, stating that the party endured 17 years of oppression because of the progress achieved during her time.

The programme was chaired by Humayun Kabir, President of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Dal. 

Other speakers included the Administrator of Dhaka South City Corporation, Bir Muktijoddha Abdus Salam, and Ekushey Padak recipient Principal Sukumar Barua. Leaders of BNP’s cultural wing were also present.