Staff Reporter :
BNP’s Acting Chairman, Tarique Rahman, has emphasised the need for both reforms and elections to bring about qualitative changes in the state, politics, and political parties.
Speaking virtually as the chief guest at an event marking the 46th founding anniversary of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal at the Engineers’ Institution in the capital on Wednesday, Tarique described these elements as essential for establishing a progressive political framework.
Tarique criticised the binary debate over whether reforms or elections are more important, labelling it as a dishonest discussion propagated by certain quarters.
He argued that reforms are an ongoing and necessary process to adapt existing systems to contemporary needs, while elections are the most effective mechanism to sustain democratic structures and ensure public empowerment.
“Through elections, citizens exercise their voting rights, a fundamental aspect of political empowerment,” Rahman said. He added that without guaranteeing the political and economic rights of the people, concepts such as democracy, human rights, or reforms would lack sustainability.
Commenting on the interim government’s ongoing reform efforts, Rahman acknowledged their significance but warned that they might lead to further public hardship.
He questioned the government’s ability to dismantle exploitative market syndicates and address the rising cost of living, issues which have exacerbated public suffering.
Additionally, Rahman raised concerns about ongoing legal battles stemming from cases filed during authoritarian regimes, which continue to burden ordinary citizens.
He also cautioned that any failure in the government’s reform agenda could empower conspirators aiming to undermine the spirit of the 2024 mass uprising. Rahman alleged that attempts to create chaos in the country had already been made several times.
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir echoed Rahman’s call, urging the interim government to prioritise holding elections promptly. Speaking at the same event, Fakhrul stressed the urgency of resolving the nation’s crises through democratic means. “Immediate elections are essential to rescue the people of Bangladesh from their current predicament,” he declared.
He added that the necessary reforms should be completed swiftly to pave the way for elections, which he described as the ultimate solution to the prevailing challenges. Fakhrul criticised attempts to undermine BNP’s unity, asserting that such efforts had repeatedly failed because BNP’s politics are deeply rooted in the aspirations of the people.
Referring to the party’s historical commitment to reforms, Fakhrul pointed out that BNP leaders had taken their 31-point agenda to the grassroots, demonstrating their dedication to change. “BNP was born through reforms. Ziaur Rahman introduced multi-party democracy, liberating the country from the grip of one-party rule under BAKSAL,” he said.
Fakhrul concluded by reiterating the party’s commitment to continuous reforms aligned with the evolving needs of the people. However, he firmly stated that BNP would resist any reform initiatives that threaten to undermine the democratic process.
The event, chaired by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib and moderated by its General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir, underscored BNP’s dual focus on reforms and elections as critical pathways to addressing the nation’s political and economic challenges.
