DHAKA, March 8, (V7N) - Prime Minister Tarique Rahman sparked brief surprise on Sunday morning when he stepped out of his Gulshan residence and remarked, “Let’s go to war,” before beginning the first working day of the week. Officials accompanying him later understood the comment as a reference to the daily challenges of running the government and tackling long‑standing administrative problems.
According to Additional Press Secretary Atikur Rahman Rumon, the Prime Minister left his residence at 8:42am for the Secretariat, where he was scheduled to attend meetings at the Cabinet Division. He reached the Secretariat around 9:30am.
As he exited his residence, personal staff and security officials were already in position. The Prime Minister greeted them with a smile and made the remark that momentarily startled those present.
Throughout the day, he was scheduled to meet Education Minister A N M Ehsanul Haque Milon, Education Adviser Mahdi Amin, and Bangladesh Investment Board Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, among others.
Rumon said the Prime Minister has been arriving at his office early every day and even working on holidays to bring greater discipline and speed to government operations. He has encouraged ministers, state ministers, advisers, secretaries and senior officials to follow the same routine.
He added that the Prime Minister has been working “day and night” to address mismanagement, irregularities and various national challenges. “The Prime Minister used the phrase ‘Let’s go to war’ to express determination to rebuild the country and confront its problems,” Rumon said.
The Additional Press Secretary noted that the Prime Minister worked at the PMO in Tejgaon on Saturday, a public holiday, and is now operating from the Secretariat six days a week. This shift, he said, allows ministers and officials to be summoned quickly without causing traffic congestion linked to VIP movement between Tejgaon and the Secretariat.
Tarique Rahman took oath as Prime Minister on February 17 and arrived at the Secretariat at 9:05am on his first day in office. Upon arrival, he inquired about the presence of ministers, state ministers and secretaries.
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