Tarique Rahman urges BNP followers to stand united amid ‘conspiracies’

Alleging that various plots are underway to derail the process of restoring democracy and people's voting rights, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman today (11 August) urged his party leaders and activists to stay united and uphold public trust by refraining from any wrongdoing to foil all conspiracies.

"The hopes and plans of BNP are to move the country forward and improve living standards of people. But conspiracies are slowly being hatched to stop these plans from being carried out. At the same time, attempts are being made by various quarters to block the country's return to democracy and deny people their right to vote," he said while speaking virtually at the biennial council of the BNP Naogaon District Council at Naogaon Convention Centre.

The BNP leader reminded his party colleagues that just a few days after the fall of the autocratic regime, he warned them the next national election would be the toughest in Bangladesh's history.

"A year ago, I said invisible forces were active and various plots were going on…Yes, the road ahead will be tough. Through newspapers and other sources, many of you now realise that perhaps Tarique Rahman was not so wrong after all," he said.

Tarique said their party can lead the country in the right direction successfully, following its plans by overcoming all challenges and foiling conspiracies if every single leader and activist in the BNP family does just two things.

"Shall I tell you what those two things are? Keep intact the trust and love of the people, avoid any actions that damage the party's image, and stay united like a family. If you do these things, we can defeat the conspiracies," he said.

Tarique said the real capital and greatest asset of a political party is the support, love and trust of the people, urging all leaders and activists not to do anything that can harm the party's popularity.

He said all leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated bodies across the country must be alert to one thing: "We must never do anything that damages people's trust, faith and love for us. We must refrain completely -- 100% -- from such actions."

The BNP leader also urged his party colleagues to keep an eye on one another to ensure that no one engages in any activity that could harm the party.

Tarique reminded party members of past struggles, saying many BNP activists had suffered under previous regimes, facing false cases, arrests, torture, and even losing family members while in jail.

"Some were taken to attend their parents' funerals in handcuffs. We have leaders and activists who died without treatment, handcuffed, in hospital corridors. You are the workers and leaders of such a party. So we should not do anything that can dent the party's image and reduce the people's trust," he said.