Tarique asks why Jamaat was in alliance for five years if BNP was ‘bad’
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Tarique Rahman has publicly challenged Jamaat-e-Islami over its past alliance with the BNP, asking why the party remained in coalition for five years if it now portrays the BNP as “bad”.
Speaking at a campaign rally at Rangpur’s Collectorate Eidgah Ground on Friday night, the BNP chairman accused Jamaat leaders of spreading false narratives about his party in recent days.
“There is a party that has been lying about the BNP for several days. They repeated it again today,” Tarique said, addressing the issue directly.
Referring to the BNP-led government that came to power through the eighth parliamentary elections from 2001 to 2006, he highlighted that Jamaat was the main coalition partner during that period.
“They were with us, two of them, from 2001 to 2006,” Tarique said.
“My question is, good people stay with good people, right? If BNP really were a bad party, why were they with us for five years?”
He added, “Either the party leaders have lost their minds, or they are speaking falsely about their own leadership.”
Earlier on Friday evening, Tarique visited the grave of Abu Sayed in Pirganj, met with his family, and then set out for the Collectorate Eidgah Ground.
It took him nearly two hours to reach the rally venue, navigating through crowds of party activists.
Once at the Collectorate Eidgah Ground, Tarique ascended the stage at 8:30pm and began his speech around 8:45pm.
During his roughly 25-minute address, he promised that if BNP came to power, agricultural loans up to Tk 10,000 for farmers would be repaid by the government, including interest.
“Farmers will not have to pay these loans themselves,” he said.
He added, “Many people say Rangpur is a poor region. But I think this area has the greatest potential. To realise that potential, we need the right leadership.”
Turning to party workers, he urged: “On the 13th parliamentary elections, please vote ‘yes’ in the referendum alongside the Sheaf of Paddy symbol.”
Tarique arrived in Rangpur by road from Bogura on Friday afternoon, on the second day of his tour of northern Bangladesh.