BNP stands by people while others flee to Delhi, Pindi: Tarique
A conspiracy of “election engineering” was underway, alleges the BNP chairman
While some political figures flee abroad in times of crisis, only the BNP remains beside the people of the country, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman told an election campaign rally in Habiganj today (22 January).
"What have we seen in the past? Whenever something happens, some people flee to a neighbouring country. It has happened again. One person recently fled… do you know where? To Pindi [Rawalpindi]."
"Some go to Delhi, some go to Pindi. But the BNP has stayed in this country, standing beside its people," he said while addressing the rally at the proposed upazila parishad ground in Shayestaganj.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Tarique came to Habiganj after holding public rallies in Sylhet and Moulvibazar earlier in the day, the first day of the party's election campaign journey.
He said that his mother, former prime minister Khaleda Zia, never left the country or abandoned its people despite facing severe repression.
"She [Khaleda] herself has always said that Bangladesh is Khaleda Zia's first and last address," he said, adding that the BNP follows the same principle with the slogan, "Bangladesh first, Bangladesh last".
Alleging that a conspiracy of "election engineering" was underway, Tarique claimed that members of the group were collecting National Identity (NID) numbers and mobile phone numbers, particularly of women.
"Those who engage in dishonest practices and distribute money before an election, how can they establish honest governance?" he asked.
Tarique further said that BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and Khaleda Zia had set examples of how to combat corruption. "This is not our words, it is the words of the international organisations, which examine and analyse in various ways how corruption is increasing or decreasing in different countries of the world."
