Next election will be toughest for BNP: Tarique tells party men

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has warned party leaders and activists that the next national election will be one of the toughest tests for the BNP. 

"The BNP has always relied on public support for electoral success. We must continue to uphold the trust we have built over the past 17 years despite enduring immense oppression and torture," he said during the second day of a series of meetings virtually with party activists from Rajshahi Division today.

He stressed the need to avoid actions that could erode public confidence and urged grassroots leaders to work cohesively, above all challenges.

On the same day, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir called on the government to provide financial support to the families of the disappeared. 

Speaking at a solidarity meeting to mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances at the BNP's central office in the capital's Nayapaltan, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir highlighted the plight of families struggling due to the disappearance of their loved ones.

Mirza Fakhrul urged the state to assume responsibility for these families, noting that no amount of support can replace the loved ones lost. 

"I call upon you [government] to ensure financial support for every family of the disappeared. I know many families are struggling to make ends meet and support their children's education. The state must take responsibility for these families," Fakhrul said.

The meeting was attended by family members of the disappeared, who voiced their demands for the return of their loved ones. The event was marked by emotional testimonies, with children crying for their missing relatives.

Fakhrul also expressed gratitude for the removal of a tyrannical regime through the student movement and sacrifices made by party activists. He praised the shift from fascism, which has allowed people to breathe freely.

The BNP leader called for thorough investigations into all incidents of enforced disappearances and killings since 2009, urging international human rights bodies to hold accountable those responsible.

"The state's duty is to address the needs of the families of the disappeared. We are still deprived of full democracy. Let us support this government, a product of our struggle, to reform the electoral system. The people of Bangladesh must elect their representatives to solve their problems," Fakhrul added.

He cautioned party workers against complacency, highlighting ongoing conspiracies and expressed the hope that the interim government would help restore democracy and improve the electoral process.

Mirza Fakhrul also referenced the case of Safa, a girl who lost her father, saying the state must take responsibility for such families. He stressed the need for justice for those involved in disappearances and killings and called for the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for such crimes.

The event was attended by the BNP's standing committee members and leaders from various affiliated and allied organisations.