Tarique insists holding polls in December

Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), expressed confidence that parliamentary elections will be held in December, promising the “most free and impartial” vote in the nation’s history. 

Speaking virtually from London at the National People’s Party (NPP) founding anniversary on Sunday, Tarique Rahman urged the interim government under Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to announce a clear election date, warning that ongoing uncertainties and sudden reforms risk economic instability and public unrest.

Fresh from a BNP delegation’s meeting with Yunus on Saturday, Tarique Rahman used the NPP event at the Diploma Engineers Institute to rally for swift elections. “BNP demands national elections within December,” he declared, emphasizing the party’s support for the interim government’s reforms in public administration and law enforcement. He praised Yunus’s global and domestic credentials, expressing hope that his leadership would deliver a landmark election.

Tarique raised concerns over the interim government’s sudden National Board of Revenue (NBR) reforms, calling them ill-timed ahead of the budget season. “A deficit budget has long hindered implementation, and NBR’s role in revenue collection is critical,” he said. “Sudden reforms create a deadlock, which isn’t good for our economy. An accountable democratic government is best equipped to navigate this.”

He warned that political and economic uncertainty is stifling investment and fueling daily protests across professions. “From gas shortages to other crises, people are taking to the streets because their demands go unheard,” he said, urging the government to clarify its plans to restore stability.

Tarique stressed the need for continuous public scrutiny to prevent any government—interim or elected—from veering toward autocracy. “Citizens must keep criticizing constructively and defending their rights,” he said. “The government isn’t above the people; it’s obliged to listen.”

He acknowledged the interim government’s moral legitimacy, rooted in the “blood of thousands of martyrs,” but cautioned that its lack of direct accountability demands transparency. “Keeping people and parties in the dark renders plans ineffective,” he said.

Tarique called on democracy-loving citizens to stay vigilant against the resurgence of dictatorship. “Fallen fascist forces are waiting for any delay to reclaim power,” he warned, invoking the unity of August 5 as a model for resisting autocracy. Despite ideological differences among anti-fascist parties, he believes a shared commitment to democracy will prevail.

The NPP event, chaired by Advocate Fariduzzaman Farhad and moderated by Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, featured speeches from BNP’s Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal, BLDP’s Shahadat Hossain Selim, and leaders from Bhashani Janashakti, Labor Party, Jagpa, Gano Dal, and Samyabadi Dal, reinforcing a collective push for democratic reforms.