Tarique urges political parties to prioritise public issues alongside reforms

Stating that people are the real capital of politicians, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today (23 March) urged political parties to focus on public issues and demands alongside state reforms.

"The people of Bangladesh have many expectations from political parties and politicians. We are discussing various issues of reform, including who should hold which authority. Alongside this, let us begin discussions on what the people's expectations, demands and key goals are," he said while virtually addressing an iftar party.

Jatiyatabadi Somomona Jote hosted the programme in honour of politicians and prominent citizens of the country at a city hotel.

In a democratic state or system, Tarique said, if people have the scope and power to determine who should run the country then political parties must focus on public issues as well as the hopes and expectations of people.

He said Bangladesh gained independence through the sacrifices of millions, but the country's democracy had been hindered at various times in different ways, including the introduction of the one-party Baksal rule and the establishment of autocratic rule over the past 15 years.

The BNP leader said the July-August mass uprising succeeded because the people stood by the political parties with their support.

"A mafia-like fleeing autocrat (Sheikh Hasina) could be driven out of the country, as people from all walks of life took to the streets and stood by the political parties with an expectation for change. People must have had an expectation for seeking change…I think people's desire is for the political parties to start working for them and address their issues," he observed.

Tarique said political parties and the media have been discussing and highlighting various aspects of reforms, including the upper house, lower house, tenure of the government, term of the Prime Minister, the authority of Parliament, and balancing power.

He said political parties and politicians might be direct or indirect beneficiaries and politics could change in some cases if the much-discussed reforms are implemented.

"But what are we thinking about the people, who are our main capital in politics? Shouldn't we talk about and think about their issues? Of course, we should, because it's our politics, and the people are our greatest capital," the BNP leader said.

He said while many people are now discussing various reforms, it was the BNP that first raised the issue and recognised the need for the reform of the state structure and institutions two and a half years ago.

Tarique said their party together with other democratic parties outlined the 31-point proposal to repair the damaged state structure.

"Why did we present the 31-point proposal? The reason was simple. We saw how the fleeing autocrat destroyed every institution in the country. Whether it's the education system, healthcare, employment, judiciary, civil administration, police administration, or the power sector, they destroyed every institution," he said.

The BNP leader said the first institution the previous autocratic regime destroyed was Bangladesh's electoral system, which they made controversial and destroyed.

"The political parties that were part of the movement for the restoration of rights of the people of Bangladesh, we all believe that the institutions which were destroyed must now be repaired," he said.

Tarique said BNP's politics is revolves around Bangladesh and its people. "If we do not fix the structure of the state, we will not be able to achieve the people's desired goals or build the country according to their expectations."