Decision on corridor must come from parliament: Tarique
Meaningful reforms are essential but elections are equally important to ensure people’s political empowerment, he says
Highlights:
- Govt bypassed public, political parties on key sovereignty issue, he says
- Bangladesh's interests must come first, not foreign powers
- BNP support for interim govt can't continue indefinitely
- A faction is sparking conflicts by pitting reforms vs elections
- Reforms and elections must go hand in hand, not replace each other
- Elected govt needed to prevent return of dictatorship
- Farmers and workers' voices missing in reform debates
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman today (1 May) opposed the interim government's decision to allow a humanitarian corridor for Myanmar's Rakhine State, stating that only an elected parliament has the authority to make such a sensitive decision.
"The freedom-loving people of the country believe that this kind of decision must be made by the people, or at the very least by a parliament elected through a direct vote. This is the norm in democratic societies," he said while speaking virtually at a rally organised by Jatiyatabadi Sramik Dal, the labour wing of BNP, at Nayapaltan in the capital on the occasion of May Day today (1 May).
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He criticised the government for making such a sensitive decision — affecting national independence and sovereignty — without informing the public or consulting political parties.
He also emphasised that any decision regarding the proposed humanitarian corridor to Rakhine must prioritise the interests of the Bangladeshi people, not foreign powers.
"This is not about Myanmar, India, Pakistan, or any other country. It is about Bangladesh first. That must be our sole guiding principle," Tarique said.
Tarique expressed concern over the interim government's reported decision, in principle, to allow Bangladesh to be used as a corridor for delivering humanitarian aid to Myanmar's conflict-torn Rakhine State.
Tarique added that while democratic political parties, including the BNP, have extended support to the interim government to help establish a people-accountable administration in a fascism-free Bangladesh, such support cannot be indefinite.
"Democracy-loving citizens believe it is neither logical nor justified to continue supporting the interim government for an indefinite period," he said.
He also emphasised the urgent need to establish a government accountable to the people to prevent the return of a fugitive dictatorship.
"A fascist or dictatorial tendency doesn't come from what's written in the constitution — it emerges when the constitution and laws are ignored. Fascism begins when an individual or group believes they are indispensable and imposes their decisions on the people without consent," he said.
Tarique Rahman called for a fully representative, elected national parliament and a government accountable to the people.
"Only a government formed by direct vote can prevent the temptation of any individual or group to cling to power without a mandate, and protect the nation from sliding into fascism," he added.
Faction in interim govt trying to create conflict by pitting reforms against elections
Tarique alleged that a section of the interim government appears to be deliberately trying to create conflict among anti-fascist political forces by framing reforms and elections as opposing agendas.
"I urge the interim government to act with caution. There is a growing perception among democracy-loving citizens that a planned attempt is being made to divide political parties by setting reforms and elections against each other," he said.
He called on the interim government to introduce both short-term and long-term reform proposals, noting that no political party is opposed to reforms.
"But at the same time, there must be progress in reforming key institutions — law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and the Election Commission — and a clear roadmap for the next national election must be presented," he said.
"We believe that meaningful reforms are essential to reshape the state and politics. But elections are equally important to ensure the people's right to vote and their political empowerment. The BNP stands firmly on the principle that both reforms and elections are necessary and one cannot substitute for the other," he added.
The BNP acting chairman noted that if the interim government's plans are transparent, public doubt and mistrust will naturally diminish.
Tarique also questioned the focus of the current reform discourse, saying, "There is constant talk of reforms in the media, in news reports and talk shows — but where is the voice of the farmers and workers? These groups are the backbone of the rural economy. Who will listen to their concerns? Who truly represents them?"
He emphasised that political parties believe in a representative system where the voices of marginalised communities can reach the state through a duly elected parliament and government.
"Only a government formed by direct votes of the people is obligated to be accountable to the people," he said.
Highlighting BNP's commitment to structural change, Tarique Rahman recalled that the party introduced a 31-point reform plan in 2023 after discussions with various political parties.
