Polls won’t be easy, warns Tarique saying conspiracies may escalate
BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday warned that conspiracies aimed at destabilising the political situation are continuing and that the upcoming national election will not be easy.
Speaking virtually from London while joining a BNP workshop in Dhaka, Tarique said recent violent incidents were proving his earlier warnings.
“What I said earlier – that the elections will not be that easy – the conspiracies are not stopping. The incidents of the past few days, including yesterday’s shooting and shooting of our candidate in Chattogram, show that what I said is slowly becoming true,” he said.
He cautioned that internal divisions could push the country towards further instability. “If we do not reduce our differences and unite ourselves, this country will be destroyed,” he said.
Recalling BNP’s past role, Tarique claimed the party had repeatedly saved the country from crisis.
“Every time the country has gone to the brink of destruction, under the leadership of Shaheed Zia or national leader Khaleda Zia, you brought the country back from the edge,” he said.
He warned that conspiracies could intensify in the coming days.
“According to various sources, these conspiracies will not end now. They may even get worse,” he said, urging party leaders and activists not to be afraid or intimidated.
“We must give courage to the people and unite all democracy-loving citizens. The more united we are, the more we move forward, the more the conspirators will be forced to retreat and the elections will be held at any cost,” Tarique said, claiming BNP alone has the strength to resist such plots.
Referring to shooting incidents involving BNP candidates in Chittagong and Dhaka, he said, “Someone is definitely trying to take advantage of these incidents. Everyone must remain vigilant.”
The workshop, titled ‘Plan for Building a Nation’, was held at the Krishibid Institute Auditorium in Farmgate as part of a series of programmes involving BNP field-level leaders. On the seventh day of the workshop series, Tarique presented BNP’s policy plans on canal excavation, health cards, farmer cards, family cards, education reform, unemployment, information technology, and the prevention of air and water pollution, outlining their implementation strategies.
Calling for a shift in mindset, he said, “Now is the time to leave behind thoughts of what I got. It is time to think about what we can give to the country and the nation. If we can do something for the country today, future generations will benefit.”
Using strong rhetoric, Tarique urged party workers to mobilise. “There is no time to sit at home. We have to win this war, and the biggest ally in this war is the people of Bangladesh,” he said.
“We will meet on the battlefield, we will meet on the voting ground,” he added.
The workshop was chaired by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and moderated by Joint Secretary General Habib-Un-Nabi Khan Sohel.