Tarique urges vigilance, says BNP shows restraint despite EC controversy

Urging all to remain vigilant against any attempts to obstruct the path of democratic transition, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday said his party still intends to show restraint despite what he described as the Election Commission's recent controversial roles and positions.

Speaking at a views-exchange meeting with family members of victims of enforced disappearances, killings and torture during the anti-fascist movement, he also said that despite widespread repression, BNP leaders and activists never went into hiding or assumed a clandestine posture in the name of strategy.

"Though it is painful to say, we have recently witnessed some controversial roles and positions taken by the Election Commission. Even then, as a responsible political party, we want to demonstrate patience," Tarique said.

He said generations of democracy-loving people should draw inspiration from the sacrifices of the martyrs and from those who were forcibly disappeared and are still missing, for whom families continue to wait.

Addressing the bereaved families, the BNP Chairman reiterated the party's long-standing pledge that if BNP, with the support of the people, forms the government, it will name important roads and key state institutions after the martyrs so that future generations can remember them with pride. "We are with you," he said.

Tarique also said families who suffered from state violence deserve proper state support. "I personally believe that the state must extend support to these families to the fullest extent possible," he added.

He said Bangladesh now has an opportunity to build a humane state that is accountable to the people.

Amra BNP Poribar and Mayer Daak arranged the programme at Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre.

Warning that some quarters are trying to create controversy to obstruct the democratic path, Tarique urged people of all political affiliations who believe in democracy to remain vigilant. "Those who are trying, using various pretexts, to create controversy and once again ruin the democratic path must not be allowed to succeed."

Referring to the long anti-fascist movement, he said its intensity had at times subsided and at other times reached its peak, but BNP leaders and activists never abandoned the streets despite years of enforced disappearances, killings, abductions, false cases, harassment and torture.

"In the same family, if one brother was forcibly disappeared, another stepped forward to take his place and stood on the streets, pledging to intensify the movement further. BNP activists did not go into hiding or assume a covert or dormant posture in the name of strategy," Tarique said.

"I firmly believe that no one can suppress a party whose leaders and activists take such an uncompromising stand against injustice through conspiracy or propaganda, Insha'Allah," the BNP Chairman observed.