Ruling party will welcome any constructive criticism: Matia

By AKM Moinuddin

Sangsad Bhaban, Mar 15 (UNB) – Agricultural Minister Begum Matia Chowdhury in parliament tonight said the government will welcome constructive criticism from the opposition as it is the best way of practicing democracy.
“We’re open to any criticism. We hope you will point out our mistakes and help us correct the mistakes,” Matia told the opposition members.
Describing various development activities of the government including ensuring adequate supply of fertilizers, she said people now do not need to run after fertilizer, rather fertilizer is running after the farmers.
“We’ve reduced the price of fertilizer up to 75 percent. Now we’re providing fertilizers at a nominal price,” she said with a sense of pride.
Requesting the leader of the opposition Khaleda Zia to visit villages and see for herself Matia said farmers now have money from lucrative jute price to buy agricultural inputs.
A gifted fiery orator Begum Matia was sarcastic of the leader of opposition. “They have forgotten everything of their misrule. Probably they eat the rice of forgetful paddy [bhola dhaner bhat]. So, they soon forget everything.”
She said the food production in the last four years of BNP-Jamat tenure maintained minus growth. “None, not even an ant died of food crisis during the present government.”
About law and order situation, Matia admitted a little indiscipline. But she said the government is working hard to maintain discipline.
About the critical views of the opposition on CHT peace accord she posed a question to the opposition leader why they did not cancel the accord when they were in power.
About the Nobel Laureate, Dr Muhammad Yunus, she questioned who threw out his wife and daughter from his house; how he played the role to empower women. “He (Yunus) is a good salesman. He could sale his story very nicely.”
Matia said they knew that their path is not smooth but full of thorns when they assumed the power. “But we will move ahead overcoming all conspiracies.”
She was critical of Khaleda for putting all the blames on Moeen U Ahmed and Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed who took over responsibility of the caretaker government but not Dr Iajuddin Ahmed who was at the helm of the affairs at the crisis period.
END/UNB/AKM/