Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam was the chief guest at a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Dal. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Aug 15, 2026 (BSS) - Jatiya Sangsad (JS) Chief Whip Md Nurul Islam today said the government will be able to resolve the country's power and energy crisis with everyone's cooperation.

He said 98 percent of Bangladesh's gas control was handed over to a particular country during the previous government.

"The country's current gas crisis has resulted from such suicidal decisions and mismanagement of the energy sector by the autocratic government," he said.

The Chief Whip made the remarks as the chief guest at a discussion organised by the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Dal at the Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club in the capital today marking the second anniversary of the July Mass Uprising.

The Chief Whip said BNP had overcome various crises in the past and brought the country to a stable position.

Recalling the tenure of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, he said that when the country was suffering from famine, Ziaur Rahman took charge and transformed Bangladesh into a food-exporting country within just three years.

"The government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will also be able to put the country, with its fragile economy, on a strong economic foundation," he said.

However, he said, everyone's cooperation is needed to run the country properly.

At the meeting, Chief Whip said nearly Tk 30 lakh crore had been siphoned out of the country during the previous regime.

The huge amount of money could have financed several national budgets, he said, adding that national unity is needed to bring the country out of the process of systematically weakening the economy and state institutions that had continued for a long time.

The Chief Whip said the autocratic regime had not only taken away people's freedom of speech but also destroyed their hopes and dreams.

"The expectations people had for the future and their dream of a beautiful tomorrow had been deliberately destroyed," he said.

He said that even after 54 years of independence, Bangladesh had yet to give democracy a proper institutional form.

"To strengthen and institutionalise democracy, we must ensure people's right to food, freedom of expression and accountability of state institutions," he said.

The Chief Whip further said that over the past five and a half months, the incumbent government, under the guidance of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, had reduced the suffering and distress of the people compared to the past.

The government is working tirelessly to stand by ordinary people and address various crises, he said.

Regarding the martyrs and injured people of the July Mass Uprising, the Chief Whip said the government would ensure all-out support for the families of those killed in July.

At the same time, necessary medical treatment would be provided to the injured, along with employment opportunities according to their qualifications, he said.

Actor Babul Ahmed and leaders of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Sangskritik Dal, among others, spoke at the discussion, chaired by Sangskritik Dal President Humayun Kabir Bepari.

Political figures, prominent personalities from the cultural arena, journalists and people from various professions attended the event.