BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday said that a party which killed millions of people in 1971 is now seeking votes from the public.
“Even if they once called for self-assessment, the people saw them in 1971. Back then, alongside genocide, they violated the honor of mothers and sisters. Now, they are again selling tickets for various things,” he said.
He added, “Promising what is not in my hands is clear shirk (associating partners with God). As a Muslim, I believe the sole owner of everything is Allah. Therefore, I can only commit to what I can achieve within my limits. We can only speak about what we can do in this era. Regarding those who talk about tickets to heaven or other claims, the people must be made aware.”
Tarique made the remarks virtually from London while delivering the keynote speech at an exchange meeting titled “Plans for Nation Building” at the Krishibid Institute in Khamarbari, Dhaka. Earlier in the morning, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir formally inaugurated the seven-day program.
He said difficult times lie ahead and various conspiracies are ongoing. “If democracy is established, these conspiracies will be foiled. To move the country forward, everyone must work shoulder to shoulder,” he added.
He emphasized the need to firmly control corruption and law-and-order at any cost. “Otherwise, the goal of nation-building cannot be achieved,” he said.
Tarique recalled that when the Awami League came to power in 1996, the country was engulfed in corruption. “After coming to power in 2001, the BNP government gradually reduced corruption. Even if some parties now accuse us of corruption, in 2001, two of their ministers were with us and stayed with the government until the last day. If we had truly been corrupted, they would not have remained. Despite propaganda by the previous fascist government, impartial courts have proven the allegations against us false.”
He said the previous fascist government misused law-enforcement agencies, and the law-and-order situation had collapsed in their tenure. “In 2001, we formed various forces and gradually improved the situation. People have benefited from these forces. Today, restoring peace and law-and-order in the country is possible only through the BNP.”
Tarique reiterated BNP’s single message: the country must be built. “Over the past one and a half years, there have been many discussions about reforms in the media. Yet, during the autocratic government, the BNP had already presented a framework for state reform three years earlier.”
He noted that during past crises, people entrusted power to the BNP. “We gradually restored order in law, education, economy, and agriculture. In the future, as a popular party, BNP’s responsibility is to change the fate of the country’s people.”
He alleged that disorder prevails in every sector of the country. “We have discussed overall issues—women, education, and the environment. We must also consider teachers. These matters must be explained to the people. To lead the nation in the future, we must move forward with plans. If the people vote in favor of these plans, implementation will be possible.”
Tarique added, “We do not want Singapore; we want a self-reliant Bangladesh. Just as we all joined shoulder to shoulder during the Liberation War, we must now take the party’s representation to people’s doorsteps.”
He further said, “If we work together, we will achieve our goals. No one can suppress us. When BNP comes to power, we must take the message of what we intend to do for women and farmers to every household at the grassroots level.”
The event was inaugurated by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, presided over by Senior Joint Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, and conducted by Joint Secretary Habib un Nabi Khan Sohel. Also present were BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Ismail Zubairullah, Dhaka District General Secretary Nipun Rai Chowdhury, Dhaka North Convener Amanul Haque, and Acting Chairman’s Adviser Mahdi Amin.
