“if the party can maintain ironclad unity until February, the people’s verdict will go in favour of the Sheaf of Paddy, the election symbol of BNP,” he says
Tarique Rahman. Sketch: TBS
“>
Tarique Rahman. Sketch: TBS
Highlights
- Tarique urges BNP unity for election win
- Calls for two pledges: unity, no personal misuse
- Says unity till Feb will secure people’s verdict
- Interim govt reforms match 90–95% of BNP agenda
- Warns of invisible forces re-emerging
BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman on Saturday (20 September) urged party leaders and activists to stay united, follow the party’s decisions and prevent anyone from using the party for personal benefit to secure victory in the upcoming election.
“Can we today, from this council, take two pledges? One – at any cost we will stand united behind the party decisions and two – we will never allow anyone to use the party for personal gain. Let us take these two vows together,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while virtually speaking from London at the triennial council of the Kishoreganj district unit BNP. Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inaugurated the council in the morning.
Tarique also said if the party can maintain ironclad unity until February, the people’s verdict will go in favour of the Sheaf of Paddy, the election symbol of BNP.
He reminded the leaders and activists that BNP’s strength lies in its bond with people, stressing the need to always stay by their side and to keep the people with the party. “Above all, what matters most to BNP is people, people and the people of Bangladesh. We must always stay with the people and we must also keep the people with us.”
The BNP leader said the people of Bangladesh have struggled together for the past 16 years against an autocratic regime to regain their voting and other political and democratic rights and their movement finally brought its downfall.
Mentioning that an interim government is now running the country after Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic regime fled, he said the this government has put forward some reform proposals, and about 90–95 per cent of these proposals were the same as those BNP had presented to the people over two and a half years ago.
Tarique said BNP may have differences of opinion with some political parties, but when it comes to Bangladesh, people’s right to vote, their security, employment and livelihoods, there is no disagreement, as BNP wants to ensure these rights.
He stressed the need for establishing a government that is accountable to the people, based on the people’s opinion and mandate, to ensure the country’s development and the nation’s welfare.
Stating that the interim government will hold national elections next February, Tarique said if BNP’s 31-point agenda is to succeed and win the people’s verdict, all party members and activists across the country must remain united at any cost.
Tarique recalled that after the fall of autocracy, he warned leaders that invisible forces would try to re-emerge, and said those threats are now becoming visible.
He once again urged BNP members to remain vigilant so that no one can misuse the party’s name for personal gain or create confusion among the public.
The BNP leader pointed out that different views may exist within a large party, but once the leadership and party policymakers make a decision, every member has a duty to stand behind it.
“Are you workers of an individual, or of the Sheaf of Paddy? You are soldiers of Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia’s ideals. That means we must remain united behind the party’s decisions and implement them at any cost,” Tarqiue said.
He emphasised that unity is essential—just as family members follow the decisions of their elders, party members must rally behind the decisions of the policymaking body.