Next election won’t be so easy, Tarique reminds BNP activists

Tarique Rahman, Acting Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has reminded party leaders and activists that the upcoming election will not be as easy as they might think, urging them to remain close to the people, as public support is crucial.

Speaking virtually from London as the chief guest at a discussion meeting on Sunday afternoon, January 19, at the Institution of Engineers in Dhaka, he made these remarks. The event was organised by BNP to commemorate the 89th birth anniversary of the party's founder, the late President Ziaur Rahman, Bir Uttam.

Addressing party leaders and activists, Tarique Rahman said, “For the past few months, I have been saying that the upcoming election will not be as easy as you think. No matter how much you boast to yourselves—'BNP has branches in every village, what do others have?'—stop boasting. Yes, you may have branches, and our leaders and activists have built those branches, taking the party to every village and every ward.”

“However, people matter. People are our strength. If the people are not with us, we saw what could happen on August 5. If we make a mistake, the people will show us again. And when that happens, we will regret it, we will lament. There’s still time; let’s stay with the people, let's stay with the public.”

He continued, “Those who do anything that harms you, me, or our party, we will raise our voices against them, we will resist them. If we truly want to honor and remember the memory of Shaheed Zia on his 89th birth anniversary, we must ensure we maintain the unwavering support of the people. We are praying for the good health of Khaleda Zia. She too will be happy to see the people supporting BNP."