Dhaka: BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has said that the people of Bangladesh do not want the rehabilitation of a fugitive autocrat, and BNP agrees with the people on this matter.
He made the statement on Saturday while addressing an event with members of the Buddhist community at the BNP chairperson’s office in Gulshan, where he was virtually present as the chief guest.
Tarique Rahman said: “Those who violated the constitution, formed an illegal parliament and government, and were involved in undermining the constitutional order must face legal consequences.”
He added: “The people of Bangladesh do not want the return or rehabilitation of any fallen, fugitive, defeated, and destructive force responsible for disappearances, murders, abductions, corruption, looting, money laundering, and the establishment of the barbaric Aynaghor torture cell.”
Calling for vigilance against any conspiracy to suppress voting rights, he said: “Until a democratically accountable government, committed to the people, is established, every citizen must remain alert and aware to ensure that no one can conspire to steal or suppress the people’s right to vote. I urge each of you today to stay vigilant.”
He also said the democracy-loving people in Bangladesh have now agreed on two key issues — firstly, that no one should be allowed to turn Bangladesh into a subservient state in the future, and secondly, that the absconding, subservient and anti-democratic forces must not be allowed to raise their heads again.
“As a political activist, I understand that the people of Bangladesh are not willing to accept any compromise on these two issues,” Tarique said.
“Every political party in Bangladesh, including the BNP, completely agrees with this demand of the people,” he added.
He further said: “The BNP seeks to establish a democratic government in Bangladesh through the direct vote of its citizens—one that will be accountable to the people.”
Calling on journalists to investigate and publish reports on incidents of minority repression over the past one and a half decades, he said: “If reports are published exposing those responsible for these acts over the past 15 years, I strongly believe that no one will dare to exploit religious communities for political gain in the future.”
Tarique Rahman also announced: “If given the opportunity to govern by the will of the people, the BNP plans to form an all-party, interfaith Citizen Investigation Commission—comprising representatives from civil society—to investigate the underlying causes of the unfortunate and unjust incidents involving different communities during the fascist regime of the past 15 years.”
He added: “Regardless of party affiliation or religion, the primary and proud identity of every citizen in this country is that we are Bangladeshis.”
He further added: “It is the BNP’s core principle that every citizen, while preserving their religious beliefs or cultural uniqueness, must enjoy equal and just rights in the state and society as a Bangladeshi.”
The event was also addressed by BNP Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, and leaders of the Buddhist community.
