Staff Reporter :
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has instructed leaders and activists of the party to remain vigilant as multifaceted conspiracies are being hatched in the run-up to the upcoming national election. “But if there is a bond with the people, I believe no conspiracy can halt BNP’s march forward, Inshallah,” he said.
Tarique Rahman made these remarks on Sunday while virtually joining as the chief guest a discussion meeting held at the Institution of Engineers, Dhaka auditorium.
The discussion meeting was organized on the occasion of BNP’s founding anniversary. Members of the BNP standing committee along with leaders from different tiers of the party attended the event.
He said, “In its 47 years of a glorious journey, BNP has always enjoyed the cooperation and support of the democratic people of the country. So, on this founding day, let us pledge ourselves once again to the people. Just as BNP has never deviated in the past from the path of establishing democracy, justice, the rule of law, and people’s rights, Inshallah, we will not deviate in the future either. BNP’s roots are in this soil of Bangladesh.”
Recalling those who sacrificed their lives in the anti-autocracy movement of the 1990s and the anti-fascist movement of 2024, Tarique Rahman said, “Through the sacrifices of thousands of martyrs, through the cries of hundreds of wounded fighters who lost limbs and eyes, the time and opportunity has now come to establish people’s rights in a fascism-free Bangladesh. One of the prime ways to realize this opportunity is the national election. Until and unless a fair and neutral election establishes a democratic government directly accountable to the people through their votes, democracy will not be free from risk.”
He added, “Invisible forces are working targeting the election. People have begun to notice that the sinister activities of those evil forces-aimed at destroying the opportunity to establish people’s rights through the ballot-are gradually becoming visible. In a Bangladesh free from fallen, defeated, and fugitive autocrats, when the interim government is moving on the path of ensuring people’s rights, some political parties are trying to impose various conditions to serve their own partisan interests instead of establishing people’s rights through elections. By imposing these conditions, many people have started thinking, perhaps a planned attempt is being made to obstruct the electoral process.”
He further said, “From the very beginning, BNP has been demanding that elections be held at the earliest possible time. Because BNP believes that first and foremost, political empowerment of the people is essential. If a government elected directly by the people fails to meet popular expectations, then in the next election the people will have the chance to bring about a change through their votes. This is how democratic practice works across the world.
Therefore, establishing people’s rights through effective democratic practice is much more urgent than theoretical reforms. BNP fully agrees on the need for reforms in state and politics.”
Calling upon democratic political parties, Tarique Rahman said, “Reforms are definitely necessary. But unless the path for people’s participation and exercise of their rights is created, no reform can be sustainable. The current interim government in a Bangladesh free from defeated and fugitive autocrats is indeed a government of the people’s will. But I do not believe there is any logical reason to expect from it the performance of a skilled and fully accountable political government.”
He said, “The rhetoric that elections will not be allowed to take place-does this weaken the unity of anti-fascist forces, or does it create the relevance for the resurgence of fugitive evil forces? Therefore, there is still time-we need to remain vigilant. The defeated and fugitive forces are lying in wait for an opportunity.” Finally, urging BNP activists, he said: “We will not condone mob violence.”
