Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has urged the nation to move away from a mentality of vengeance and working for political retribution.

Addressing everyone, he said, "Let us try to alter our thinking a little. Yes, whatever happened to me cannot be reversed by seeking revenge now. Therefore, moving past a retaliatory mindset, we should focus on what we can do for the nation. Success comes later; at the very least, we must move forward with a mindset to work for the country."

The Prime Minister made these remarks on Tuesday (June 16) afternoon during an exchange of views with journalists covering the BNP beat at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

Media Freedom and Historical Context
The Prime Minister emphasized that the BNP government has repeatedly proven it harbors no animosity toward the media. "That is why the current government wants to ensure freedom of the press. The government may make mistakes—let there be constructive criticism," he stated.

Reflecting on the significance of the day, the Premier remarked, "Today is an important day for us and for the newspaper industry in Bangladesh. On this very day, all newspapers in Bangladesh were once shut down, leaving only four handpicked publications. From that dark era, we have progressed to a point where I am speaking with so many journalist brothers today."

He added that this freedom proves that the past suppression of the press is currently non-existent. "We saw how press freedom was stripped away when all but four newspapers were banned. Concurrently, all political parties in Bangladesh were abolished to form a single party named BKSAL."

"Later, when the Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman took over the state responsibilities, he re-introduced multi-party democracy and lifted restrictions on newspapers. What happened after that, and the progress made, has also been reflected in your remarks today," he added.

Every year, June 16 is observed as Newspaper Black Day in Bangladesh. On this day in 1975, the then-BKSAL government banned the publication and declaration of all newspapers across the country, except for four state-run mouthpieces, to stifle the media. Since the following year, journalists and media workers have been observing the day in protest.

Seeking Media Cooperation
Seeking cooperation from the media, the Prime Minister told the attending journalists, "You can assist me greatly. The government cannot do it alone; I need your cooperation. Without it, I will not be able to gauge whether our work is yielding good or bad results."

He urged everyone to step forward for national progress, noting that media assistance would make his tasks smoother.

Addressing Youth Issues, Sports, and Morality
Turning to social challenges, the Prime Minister identified drug addiction as a critical issue plaguing the younger generation. "While it exists globally, its prevalence here is alarming. However, how many people can we arrest, treat, or counsel? We face limitations in capacity and resources. Hence, we must find alternative solutions."

Stressing the importance of properly nurturing future generations, he stated that the immense physical and mental energy of youth aged 15 to 25 must be channeled into positive avenues like sports and culture. He lamented the severe shortage of playgrounds across Dhaka and the rest of the country.

Highlighting government initiatives, he mentioned the revival of the Notun Kuri sports and cultural competitions. "Around 2.2 million children from across the country participated in a recently concluded educational department event, cutting across political lines. Sadly, such a massive event did not receive due coverage in our media."

Beyond sports, he emphasized organizing science and innovation fairs at the district and divisional levels to foster talent. He questioned why cultural or debate competitions in educational institutions are confined to specific national days like December 16 or February 21, asserting that these activities must continue year-round to guide the youth onto a healthy path.

Expressing concern over declining social values, he added, "Nowadays, we see an animal being beaten to death while ten people stand by recording it on mobile phones. This reflects an abnormal mentality. We must reinforce social and religious values right from the school level. The Ministry of Information has been directed to launch awareness campaigns on this."

Pressure of Responsibility and Personal Reflection
Responding to a journalist's question, Tarique Rahman admitted feeling an "immense pressure" in his role. "One of the speakers mentioned witnessing joy on people's faces during post-election travels. I believe I have seen the same. Yet, there is a heavy burden of responsibility because we face numerous problems and limitations. At the same time, expectations from people across various professions are incredibly high."

Invoking the memory of President Ziaur Rahman, he shared a personal anecdote: "A few days ago, while returning home from the office, I told those in the car with me about something my father once told a colleague—that if a day were 48 hours instead of 24, we could have worked a bit better."

"Like my father, I found myself thinking the other day that from the moment I enter the office until evening falls, time flies by so fast that there is barely time to breathe. So, I too feel it would be better if a day were 48 hours instead of 24."

Sharing his experiences of past confinement, the Prime Minister said, "I have come from prison; I have been physically and mentally tortured. If an X-ray is done today, it might still show that my spinal bone healed crookedly because it was left unattended for a long time without proper medical treatment. A broken bone does not mend in three days out of four weeks."

"But if I go around blaming those responsible for this now, my bone will not straighten, nor will the pain I still occasionally feel disappear. Therefore, instead of dwelling on past losses, we must think about the welfare of the country."

He requested the journalists to convey this message of moving past grievances to his party leaders and activists.

Attendees
The view-exchange meeting began with the Prime Minister joining the journalists for lunch.

Moderated by the Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Jahidul Islam Rony, the meeting was attended by Information Minister Jahir Uddin Swapon, Minister of State Yasser Khan Chowdhury, Prime Minister’s Advisor Mahdi Amin, Prime Minister’s Press Secretary Saleh Shibli, Speechwriter SAM Mahfuzur Rahman, Additional Press Secretary Atiqur Rahman Rumon, and Deputy Press Secretaries Hasan Shiplu, Shujauddoula Sujan, and Shahadat Hossain Swadhin, among others.