National election must be held by December: Tarique
"There may not be a crisis of moral and political legitimacy of the interim government. However, this government is not accountable to the people," he said
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has said national polls must be held by December and expressed hope that the people of Bangladesh will witness one of the most credible elections in the country's history under the leadership of Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
He expressed confidence that under the leadership of a respected and capable interim government chief, Bangladesh would soon see one of the most neutral and participatory elections in its history.
"On the founding anniversary of the NPP, I share this hope with you all," he said, addressing virtually from London the 18th founding anniversary of the National People's Party at the Institution of Diploma Engineers auditorium in Dhaka today (25 May).
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Tarique also said political parties have already met with the interim government's head to demand a specific election date. "We are calling for a national election within December. The BNP and others who have jointly taken to the streets support this demand," he said.
Reaffirming the BNP's support for reforms, Tarique stressed the need to restructure the public administration and law enforcement ahead of the election. "To ensure a credible voting, reform in key institutions is essential. We remain fully supportive of this process."
While acknowledging the interim government's legal and political legitimacy, Tarique said no plan of the government will be effective by keeping the political parties and the people in the dark.
"Since the government is not answerable to the people, it must publicly outline its plans. Keeping both citizens and political parties in the dark will only make any steps ineffective and unsustainable," he said.
Reflecting on the past, he said Bangladesh's democratic forces had to endure repression and conspiracies under the former autocratic regime.
"The NPP also suffered during that era. Today, you are celebrating your founding anniversary. Let this be the goal of every democratic party: never again allow tyranny to return," he added.
The BNP leader stressed the need for continuous reform to block the return of authoritarianism and improve governance.
"Reforms must not be seen as one-off or symbolic. We need practical, implementable changes based on constitutional and legal frameworks. Reform is a continuous process, not a checklist," he said, adding that applied reform matters more than what is written in books.
He said empowering citizens is the strongest tool against fascism. "Only a parliament and government formed through direct votes can be truly accountable to the people. And only then can we ensure that fascist tendencies don't resurface."
Tarique warned that even an elected, interim or caretaker government could slide into authoritarianism if not held accountable. "That's why citizens must continue to critique and question the government fearlessly. Rights are not gifted – they must be demanded."
He added, "The people are not subjects of state mercy. The government is bound to listen to them and meet their legitimate demands. There is no room for personal pride or grudges in governance."
Tarique also criticised the government's recent move to reform the National Board of Revenue (NBR) just before budget finalisation. "Though NBR doesn't prepare the budget, it is vital in implementing it through revenue collection. Abrupt changes to the NBR at this time have created uncertainty. This is not healthy for the economy."
He also said that a truly democratic, accountable government is best equipped to address such challenges. "Democracy-loving citizens believe this firmly," he said.
