Tarique seeks public support to implement reform agenda
NN Online:
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called on the people of Bangladesh to support the party in implementing proposed reforms, following the interim government’s announcement of a roadmap for the upcoming general election.
In a virtual address to a BNP rally in front of the party’s central office in Nayapaltan on Wednesday—marking the first anniversary of the 2024 July Mass Uprising—Tarique welcomed the interim government’s initiatives, including the election timeframe and the unveiling of the July Charter.
“We appreciate the government’s effort to chart a path forward through dialogue with democratic parties. BNP has laid out its vision for governance and political reform. Now, we seek the public’s support to make these changes a reality for the betterment of the nation,” Tarique said.
He stated that the July Charter reflects the will of the people and is a step toward building a democratic, accountable government free from fascism. “The time has come to establish a government truly answerable to the people,” he added.
Reflecting on the bloodshed during the 2024 mass uprising, Tarique claimed that over 1,500 lives were lost due to state repression. “The path to democracy has been paved with immense sacrifice. We must now honour those sacrifices by ensuring no such tragedy is ever repeated,” he said.
Tarique urged citizens of all religions, castes, and political affiliations to rise above divisions and claim their democratic rights. “This is a defining moment. It’s time to decide whether we want safety and dignity for our families or a future haunted by tyranny,” he said.
Condemning the past government’s oppressive rule, he said the country had been turned into a “barbaric prison,” citing the existence of secret detention centers like “Aynaghar.”
“No man or woman, minority or majority, can remain safe without democracy and the rule of law,” he said. “To reclaim our rights, we must now put into practice the democratic ideals earned through sacrifice.”
He called for political unity despite differences, urging pro-democracy forces to resolve disputes through dialogue and stand united in Parliament for national interest.
BNP leaders including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Dr. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Salahuddin Ahmed, and Ruhul Kabir Rizvi also addressed the rally, which concluded with a procession through surrounding streets as part of the party’s month-long commemoration of the 2024 uprising.