BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman speaking in a virtual address at a public rally organized by the Kishoreganj district unit of BNP on Monday, September 23, 2024.
Tarique Rahman, acting chairperson of BNP, has expressed his party's desire to collaborate with all democratic political parties to reorganize the country, provided they gain the support of the people.
Tarique made the statement in a virtual address at a public rally organized by the Kishoreganj district unit of BNP on Monday.
"It has taken us 17 years of struggle and sacrifices to oust the autocratic government. Thousands of people have given their lives during this long struggle. We want to rebuild the country together with all the political parties that were part of this movement," Tarique said.
Reflecting on the martyrs of the July-August uprising, he added: "You fought for your rights, and more than a thousand people were martyred during those months. The dictatorship tried to suppress our demands, but the people of Bangladesh did not accept it. They sacrificed their lives for the future of this nation, and we must honor their expectations by working towards building an economically independent Bangladesh."
Speaking on the ongoing conspiracies against Bangladesh, saying: "The dictatorial regime may have fallen, but its remnants still haunt us. This government, built on the sacrifices of millions, cannot allow those sacrifices to be in vain. The conspiracy of dictatorship will not succeed."
Calling for the establishment of a government that is truly accountable to the people, he said: "A people's government must be established through elections. Only then will the government be accountable to the citizens. For the development of the country, we need a government chosen by the people, and this right must be ensured through fair elections. When the people of Bangladesh regain their voting rights, our struggle will be fulfilled."
If the BNP comes to power, Tarique pledged to introduce a "family card" for every household.
He said: "We will go from village to city, providing each family with a card registered under the name of the family’s mother or housewife. This initiative will help eradicate hunger in rural areas if sustained over several years."
Nazrul Islam Khan, a member of the BNP Standing Committee, echoed Tarique’s sentiments during his speech as a special guest.
"The dictatorial government has fallen, and now it's time to establish a government of the people through elections. Democracy will return to this country through the BNP, Khaleda Zia, and Tarique Rahman," he said.
He emphasized that the culmination of their long movement was the July-August Revolution, noting that thousands of party leaders and activists had been martyred over the past 17 years.
"Many have gone missing, and justice must be served for all those who were murdered by tyrannical regimes," Nazrul added.
The event was presided over by District BNP President Shariful Alam, with other notable speakers including BNP Chairperson's Advisor Fazlur Rahman and Joint Secretary General Imran Sahel Prince.
