Interim govt must win BNP’s trust: Tarique Rahman

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has said the interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, must take on the challenge of earning the BNP's unwavering trust.

"We all know that there was no alternative to an interim government to fill the vacuum suddenly created in a dictatorship-free Bangladesh. For valid reasons, we supported them at the time and still support them. They must take on the challenge of ensuring that our trust in them remains unshaken," he said while speaking virtually at a mass rally at Payra Chattar in Jhenaidah today (28 September), reports UNB.

Meanwhile, addressing a separate rally in Gazipur, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said India is attempting to undermine Bangladesh's garment industry in order to seize its foreign market. 

"A taskforce needs to be formed urgently to safeguard the country's industries and factories from both domestic and foreign conspirators," he said while speaking at a workers' rally organised by the Gazipur District and City Shramik Dal at Konabari Degree College ground yesterday. 

Speaking at another meeting in the Dakshinkhan area of the capital, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said that state reform would be unattainable as long as individuals linked to the ousted Awami League continued to hold positions in the government administration. 

Addressing the Jhenaidah rally virtually, Tarique Rahman said the interim government must specify the responsibilities assigned to them and outline a roadmap for fulfilling those duties effectively.

"While it may not be possible for them to implement all changes, it would also be unreasonable for them to shoulder responsibilities they cannot carry," he observed.

Tarique, who is currently in London, said that every decision, statement, and reaction at the highest levels of government requires the careful and visible application of utmost caution to avoid misunderstanding.

He said running a government is a highly sensitive and complex task, warning that even a small deviation can raise a big question, while carelessness can weaken the essential trust and fracture the unity that is at the core of the nation's strength.

"Any one of these can lead to a terrible disaster. It is important to remember that the visible and invisible evil spirit of a dictatorship, built up over a decade and a half, will not rid us of its poisonous breath so easily," Tarique observed.

The Jhenaidah District unit of BNP organised the mass rally at Payra Chattar, demanding justice for Rakib and Sabir, two locals who were martyred during the recent mass movement that overthrew the AL government on 5 August.

The BNP acting chairman said they are often witnessing the interim government's helplessness and disarray in the face of the ongoing conspiracies in the partisan administration left behind by "autocrat Hasina."

He also cautioned that if this situation persists, the government, trapped in the constraints placed by the autocrat's associates, will eventually see a series of small crises escalate into major disasters. "At that point, the path to effective solutions will be exceedingly narrow," he added.

Tarique said it is important to keep in mind that there is no alternative to an elected government for ensuring foreign investment, international confidence and relations, state stability, ease of doing business, public safety, continuity of development, and providing citizens with daily services at the grassroots level.

He said the mass uprising led by students and the public in July and August has emerged as a message of another independence and victory for the nation. "If we hastily label this as the success of a specific group, we risk falling into the trap of distorting history once again."

The BNP leader highlighted the importance of honouring the contributions of people from all walks of life — political parties, students, housewives, and workers — in the great conflict against autocracy.

He also emphasised the sacrifices of the millions of political activists who have fallen victim to everything from murder and enforced disappearances, to judicial harassment and other forms of oppression over the past seventeen years. "If we fail to do that, history will not forgive any of us," Tareque added.

Hasina with foreign help creating unrest in industries: Fakhrul

At the Gazipur rally, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that Sheikh Hasina and her allies in collaboration with foreign powers are inciting unrest in industrial factories to undermine the country's economy. 

He claimed that India is attempting to seize the foreign market for Bangladeshi products by dismantling the nation's RMG industry, the top export earner.

Following Sheikh Hasina's downfall by the student-led uprising on 5 August, unrest erupted in various industrial sectors, including garments and pharmaceuticals, which Fakhrul alleged was instigated by the Awami League.

Addressing leaders and activists, the BNP leader said, "We must safeguard the RMG industry. All leaders and activists should unite with the workers in this fight. Keep in mind that 50 lakh people in the country are engaged in this sector, and the majority of our foreign income comes from this sector."

Rizvi urges interim govt to hold free, fair polls after reform

Addressing a meeting held in remembrance of Zahiduzzaman Tanvir, who was shot by police during the recent movement, in Dhaka's Dakshinkhan yesterday, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi urged the interim government to hold free, fair and impartial elections in the country after necessary reforms.

He, however, said that state reform would not be possible as long as those associated with the Awami League remained in the government administration.

"Many of the AL allies are still in the administration; those who fired on the common people while protecting Hasina are the ones who remain in positions of power," he said, demanding such supporters of the AL be removed from various positions in the government.

He said the AL wanted to stay in power by taking away the people's right to vote, ultimately taking the lives of the students.

"Those who have the blood of ordinary people on their hands should be tried first. Otherwise, the souls of the martyrs will not find peace," Rizvi said.

Regarding Bangladesh's relationship with neighbouring India, the senior BNP leader said everyone should respect Bangladesh's independence and sovereignty as friends, leaving aside the "nature of lordship."

Mentioning that the days of bowing down to India are coming to an end, Rizvi said, "The people of Bangladesh will never be on their knees again."