Interim government failing to reflect public aspirations: Tarique

BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has accused the interim government of failing to grasp and respond to the aspirations of the Bangladeshi people.

Speaking virtually on Thursday afternoon at a discussion event marking the martyrdom anniversary of former President Ziaur Rahman, Tarique stated that many advisers within the current government are unaware of the suffering and distress faced by the public.

The event was held at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, in Dhaka, and was attended by senior leaders of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), according to local media.

Tarique Rahman criticised the interim government’s inability to set an election date even after ten months, claiming that the resulting uncertainty has cast a shadow over the country’s economy. “This delay is discouraging investment, and many factories are on the verge of closure. Even business leaders are being denied the opportunity to speak freely,” he said.

Touching on the issue of political reform, he noted that while political parties generally do not object to reforms themselves, there is growing frustration over delays in implementing them. “If the government takes a positive stance on reforms, elections can be held by December. BNP has made this demand clear. In fact, if there is consensus on reforms, elections could even be held before December,” he added.

Tarique emphasised that this is not about winning or losing for any party but about upholding the democratic rights of the people. “We call on the government to immediately announce the election date and schedule,” he urged.

The event was chaired virtually by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, with BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia addressing the gathering as the chief guest.

Other key BNP figures who addressed the audience included Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Major (Retd.) Hafizuddin Ahmed, and Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.