People eagerly waiting for BNP to assume power: Tarique

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has said that the people of the country are eagerly waiting for his party to come to power through a free and fair national election.

"We are waiting for a free, fair and an acceptable election. People are keen to see BNP at the helm of the state," he said virtually from London at a workshop on 'The party's 31-point reform proposal and public involvement' organised by the party's Jhenaidah, Jashore and Narail district units on Wednesday evening.

He cautioned his party leaders and activists saying that vested interests have started to hatch plots against BNP. "Conspiracies against BNP are ongoing inside and outside the country. We must remain vigilant. It is not possible to suppress BNP by hatching conspiracies, as BNP is a party of people.

"We must gain people's confidence. We have to correct ourselves. Autocratic ruler Sheikh Hasina has destroyed all the sectors in the country. So running the country will be a difficult task for the next upcoming elected government.

"The political parties which participated in the movement against Sheikh Hasina's fascism must be united. Fascism can never return to the country if we all remain united," he said.

He said that political vengeance shouldn't be allowed to happen. "We will take revenge by implementing our 31 -point reform proposal. BNP is the biggest party that fought against fascism. So our (BNP) responsibility is also big compared to other political parties," he said.

Replying to a question on the 31-point reform proposal, he said, "It is possible to tackle unemployment and pay unemployment and other allowances if we can check corruption and cut unnecessary expenditures." If BNP is voted into power, they will work on providing allowances, said Mr Tarique Rahman.

He said state honour will be given to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the last 16 years' movement, including the July-August mass uprising.

The acting chairman further said that a party did not participate in the War of Liberation while another opposed it. BNP is such a party that took part in the War of Liberation and they also engaged in the nation building process after the independence.

BNP founder and former president Shaheed Ziaur Rahman himself visited across the country to build the nation, Mr Tarique said, adding that his party wants to follow and implement Ziaur Rahman's principles.

Assistant Organising Secretary of BNP's Khulna division unit Jayanta Kumar Kunda delivered the address of welcome at the event which was chaired by Vice-President of the party's Jhenaidah district unit Munshi Kamal Azad Pannu.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com