BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman has remarked that if public hardships are overlooked under the guise of reform programmes, the people might be compelled to demand reforms directly from the government.
Speaking on Wednesday (1 January) afternoon at a discussion event commemorating the anniversary of the BNP-affiliated student organisation, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, held at the Engineers’ Institute in Dhaka, Rahman emphasised the pressing need for holistic reform.
He stated, “Following the flight of the mafia chief [Sheikh Hasina], every political party now faces the opportunity to strive for a humane and egalitarian Bangladesh free of disparities. Each party must present its ideals and programmes to the public, seeking their support—this is the essence of democratic principles and the norm in the civilised world.”
Tarique Rahman dismissed debates pitting reforms against elections as maliciously motivated, asserting, “BNP and all patriotic individuals and political parties view such arguments as mere sophistry. Both reforms and elections are indispensable for qualitative change in the state, politics, and political parties. Reforms are essential for modernising the existing system, while elections are paramount to establishing a sustainable and institutionalised democratic framework.”
Highlighting the significance of electoral processes, he added, “Elections empower the public to exercise their voting rights, ensuring political authority for both the state and its citizens. However, without ensuring the political and economic empowerment of the people, neither human rights, democracy, nor theoretical reforms can achieve sustainability.”
He acknowledged the interim government’s steps towards significant reforms but cautioned, “If the public’s daily hardships remain ignored amidst these grand reform schemes, the people may be forced to demand reforms from the government itself.”
He questioned the government's actions to dismantle market syndicates formed during the previous autocratic regime, which continue to inflate commodity prices beyond the reach of ordinary citizens.
The acting BNP chief also criticised the unresolved plight of those entangled in countless cases from the fascist era, still frequenting courtrooms without cause.
Tarique Rahman reiterated BNP’s commitment to upholding the spirit of the 2024 mass uprising, warning that failures in implementing meaningful reforms or prioritising significant changes could embolden conspirators to destabilise the country further. “They have already made multiple attempts to create unrest,” he observed.
The event also featured speeches from other prominent BNP leaders, including Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Vice-Chairpersons Shamsuzzaman Dudu and Asaduzzaman Ripon, Chairperson’s Adviser Aman Ullah Aman, Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Student Affairs Secretary Rakibul Islam Bakul, Information Secretary Azizul Bari Helal, Publicity Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Executive Committee Member Nazimuddin Alam, and former Chhatra Dal leaders Kazi Rawnakul Islam and Habibur Rashid Habib.
