Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today called upon the party men to take preparation for the national elections.
"Democracy and BNP are synonymous. If democracy is endangered, BNP's interests are also endangered. After the escape of the mafia leader, a democratic environment has now returned to the country. The time for the national elections is also approaching. You should prepare yourselves mentally (for elections)," he said.
BNP wants to restore people's voting rights and establish such a government accountable to the people, Tarique Rahman said seeking people's support in this regard.
He was virtually addressing the second extended meeting of the central committee formed through the sixth council held in March, 2016 at the LD Hall of the Jatiya Sangsad.
The BNP acting chairman said a conspiracy is underway to destroy national unity and election environment.
"Various conspiracies have already started to thwart the opportunity and possibility created after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's fascist Awami League regime. Attempts are being made to destroy the national unity and environment of the national elections which came through blood-soaked streets," he said.
"The conspiracy of those who wanted to make Bangladesh a subservient state has not stopped yet," he added.
Tarique Rahman called upon all including farmers, workers, scholars, ulama, Pir Mashayek, and people of all classes and professions to stay vigilant against any conspiracy to destroy the environment of national unity and the national elections.
BNP's extended meeting is being held after a long 7 years as the last one was held on February 4, 2018. The party claimed they could not hold further extended meeting or council of the BNP during the Awami League rule.
BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia spoke at the function virtually from London as the chief guest as she is now at her elder son Tarique Rahman's residence for treatment purpose. In her speech, she wished the success of the meeting seeking prayers from all.
Tarique Rahman recalled the contribution of BNP founder and great proclaimer of independence Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman saying he lit the light of democracy in the darkness of one-party cursed Bangladesh.
"Ziaur Rahman gave all the political parties to be banned by the late Sheikh Mujibur Rahman an opportunity to do politics in Bangladesh. He handed over the flag of democracy to the BNP, blessed with the love of the people," he said.
About reform, the BNP acting chairman said reform in the state and politics is a continuous process. "The idea of reform is not new to BNP. BNP has always embraced the aspirations of the people whatever position it has held either in the government or in the opposition," he said.
"The establishment of multi-party democracy in the country after November 7, 1975, which was the reflection of the aspirations of the Liberation War through the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, and the establishment of a parliamentary government in the country in 1991 were all epoch-making reforms in the field of state politics," he added.
In addition, during its various terms of office, the BNP government created opportunities for girls to study in schools and colleges free of cost and established the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs to ensure proper evaluation of freedom fighters in the state and society, Tarique Rahman said.
The BNP government established the Ministry of Science and Information Technology to keep Bangladesh ready in keeping pace with the world's information technology, and formed the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment to ensure the welfare of expatriate Bangladeshis, he noted.
These were also some important reforms in the state and government and there are countless other examples of this kind, he said.
Tarique Rahman said, "All avenues for reform were closed as the fugitive dictator Sheikh Hasina seized power through conspiracy. In order to make Bangladesh a subservient state forever, Awami League had almost destroyed the country's education system in the last one and a half decades. It had made the country's defense system fragile".
He said the AL government had made the country's economy fragile by laundering money and looting and all the country's constitutional and statutory institutions were made ineffective.
It had deprived the people of their rights to vote and made them politically powerless, endangering the country's independence and sovereignty, he said.
"In such a situation, the Mother of Democracy Begum Khaleda Zia gave Vision 2030 in 2017 with the aim of qualitative change in the state, government and politics. In continuation of this, BNP announced a 27-point program in 2022. Later, a 31-point programme was announced after exchanging views with pro-democracy political parties," Tarique Rahman said.
Currently, dialogue with the people across the country is underway at the initiative of BNP on these 31 points, he said.
