Will join you in electioneering to ‘establish people’s rights’, Tarique tells activists

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday expressed his intention to directly take part in the party’s election campaigns, telling leaders and activists that he would stand beside them in processions to establish the rights of the people.

“I will also be with you in this election procession to establish the rights of the people, InshaAllah,” Tarique said while addressing a discussion marking Victory Day at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, in Ramna.

At the outset of the programme, special prayers were offered for the speedy recovery of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, who is undergoing treatment at Evercare Hospital.

In his address, Tarique Rahman said attempts to intimidate freedom-loving and democracy-loving people would fail. “There is no reason to fear. Victory and defeat, life and death are all determined by Allah. If we move forward united to establish people’s rights, the conspirators will be forced to retreat,” he said.

Referring to past political movements, including 1971, November 7, 1975 and the 1990 anti-autocracy uprising, he said history had repeatedly shown that no force could stop the people when they were united. “I say with confidence that the elections will be held on time, InshaAllah,” he added.

Tarique Rahman said the upcoming national election was more significant than any in the past as it involved the aspirations of present and future generations, as well as the question of safeguarding Bangladesh’s sovereignty and national interests.

Describing the next decade as one of “transformation”, he said BNP had prepared a country-building programme focusing on women, youth, farmers and workers. “Our goal is to make Bangladesh prosperous and self-reliant by harnessing this strength and to make every Victory Day more meaningful,” he said.

He stressed that BNP would not confine the spirit of Victory Day to slogans alone, saying the party sought public support in the election to ensure that the benefits of victory reached every citizen.

Tarique Rahman also accused “defeated forces” of distorting the history of the Liberation War for political gain and attempting to create fresh confusion. Instead of pursuing revenge, he said, the pledge of Victory Day should be to build a democratic and prosperous Bangladesh through political and economic empowerment of the people.

Alleging that vested quarters were still trying to obstruct the election process by imposing conditions and creating instability, he warned that conspiracies had not ended. Referring to the shooting of pro-democracy activist Osman Hadi, he claimed such incidents were part of efforts to derail the electoral process.

“The state can never be strong by disempowering its people,” Tarique Rahman said, iterating BNP’s demand for free, fair and impartial elections to establish a people’s government through direct vote.

The programme was chaired by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and moderated by Publicity Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku. Several senior party leaders, including members of the BNP Standing Committee, also spoke at the event.