Tarique urges parties to face people's verdict through politics, not tactics

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday urged political parties to face people's verdict through politics, not "unfair tactics", ahead of the upcoming national election.

Speaking virtually while exchanging Janmashtami greetings, Tarique alleged that some parties were attempting to block BNP's victory. He appealed for their support, calling the election "a big opportunity to build a safe Bangladesh for the future generation."

"The surprising matter is that in a fascist-free Bangladesh, it is not the ruling government this time, but rather the attitude of some political figures and groups—who were comrades in the anti-fascist movement on the streets—now reflects the same tendency of the ousted fugitive autocratic regime to block BNP's victory," he said addressing party leaders at the Institution of Engineers auditorium.

He accused the former government of turning the country into "a vast prison and a subservient state" in its efforts to stop the BNP. According to him, similar attempts are still being made.

"Even in today's fascist-free Bangladesh, there are still some parties and quarters who fear that if the election is held, people will vote for the BNP to form the government. Out of this fear, they are resorting to evil tactics and setting conditions to obstruct BNP's victory," he said.

Tarique called on political rivals to "confront politics with politics", urging them to trust the people's mandate. "If BNP's victory truly comes from the people, then do not block the people's right to give their mandate just to resist BNP's triumph," he said.

The event, organised by the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddha-Christian Kalyan Front at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, was held to mark Janmashtami, the birth of Lord Krishna.

On the electoral system, Tarique said the Proportional Representation (PR) method was not suitable for Bangladesh, given its socio-economic, geographic and political context.

"People have the right to know who they are voting for and which individual is being elected as their representative in Parliament. But under the PR system, voters have no clear way of knowing exactly which person is being elected," he said.

He stressed that any party or individual seeking to serve in Parliament must "directly face the people, win their trust and confidence, and earn their mandate through votes."

Tarique also extended greetings to Hindu communities at home and abroad, and paid tribute to those who sacrificed their lives during the July-August mass uprising.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, addressing the same programme, said the Awami League's 16-year rule had "destroyed Bangladesh's democratic structure."

He accused the ruling party of indulging in massive corruption and siphoning off money abroad. Fakhrul further warned of attempts to make people forget the Liberation War of 1971 and urged all to remain vigilant against extremism and fundamentalism.

Reaffirming that BNP does not believe in communalism, Fakhrul said the party wanted to build "a rainbow nation ensuring communal harmony in Bangladesh."

He also urged Hindu communities to remain alert so that no one could use communalism to destabilise the country.

BNP Standing Committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, Dr AZM Zahid Hossain, Gono Forum Executive President Advocate Subrata Chowdhury, BNP Vice Chairman Netai Roy Chowdhury and party Executive Committee member Nipun Roy Chowdhury were also present.