Tarique says he feels ‘immense pressure’ of responsibility in office

The prime minister says workload and high public expectations leave him with little time to breathe

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said he is experiencing “immense pressure” in office while dealing with multiple challenges, limitations and high public expectations.

Speaking at a meeting with journalists at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre on Tuesday, he said he barely gets time to breathe due to the workload.

Responding to a journalist’s question on how he feels leading the country after his party's two-decade absence from governance, the prime minister said people’s reactions in different places reflected strong expectations from the government.

“There are many interpretations of what people say. But I am definitely feeling an immense pressure of responsibility. There are a lot of problems, a lot of limitations…and at the same time, expectations from people across all classes and professions are exceptionally high. So, I am feeling an immense weight of responsibility,” he said.

Echoing his father, the late president Ziaur Rahman, the premier remarked that a 48-hour day instead of the standard 24 hours would have allowed him to accomplish much more for the nation.

“He once told one of his colleagues that ‘if the day had 48 hours instead of 24, we could do better work’,” Tarique said, quoting his father.

“I don’t even realise when I enter the office and when evening comes. There is no time to breathe,” he said.

Tarique returned to the country last year after 17 years in exile.

He assumed leadership of the BNP following the death of his mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia.

The BNP came to power after winning the February election, and he was sworn in as prime minister on Feb 17.