Country must be brought back to democratic system through polls: Tarique

The country must be taken into a democratic system through holding elections in a bid to take it forward, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has said.

“If we want to take the country forward, Bangladesh must be brought back to a democratic system. Either at union parishads or in general, the country must be brought back to the election process,” he said at a rally at Dubachuri Dimbukhi Dakhil Madrasah ground in Nilphamari on Monday.

Tarique Rahman joined the rally virtually from London. The programme was arranged by Amra BNP Poribar (ABP) to hand over the documents of a new house to the family of BNP leader Golam Rabbani, who was killed in RAB crossfire in Nilphamari Sadar upazila on 18 January 2014.

BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi spoke at the programme as the chief guest while the ABP convener Atikur Rahman Ruman chaired the rally.

Tarique said, “The autocrat has been ousted and they fled the country; now it is time to work. The country needs to be rebuilt. Everyone needs to get united and prepared for that. Our big task now is to protect the trust and hope of the people. We need to establish the democratic rights of the people.”

He also said people and political parties must be cautious about their opinions to ensure that they do not harm the country or its people.

“Different people have different opinions. We will discuss them, but in the end, we have to build the country based on the opinion supported by the maximum number of people,” the BNP leader said.

“However, we must ensure that these differences do not escalate to a level that harms the country, its people, or its progress," he continued.

Tarique Rahman said, “In the last 16 years, the homes and businesses of many BNP leaders and activists have been demolished, many colleagues like Nilphamari BNP leader Golam Rabbani have been killed by the escaped dictator. More than five hundred leaders and activists were killed in the July-August movement.”

“We will not respond to this torture the way they (the deposed fascist) did. We will not become inferior just because they are inferior. We will respond to all torture by making the 31 points a success," he said.

Asking the party men to approach people, the BNP acting chairman said, “You have to maintain the trust of the people. We will keep ourselves restrained and try to keep our colleagues restrained. When the dictatorship was depriving the people of their rights and holding power at gunpoint, I said, ‘Take Back Bangladesh’.”

"We are committed to re-establishing democracy in Bangladesh in unity. The foundation for repairing our state will be free, fair and participatory elections; independence of the judiciary and media; and the institutional implementation of all the fundamental principles of democracy. We will build a Bangladesh that ensures prosperity and self-reliance for future generations, an inclusive and liberal political environment, and social stability and justice."

Rawnak Jahan, the eldest daughter of the deceased Golam Rabbani, spoke at the public meeting demanding justice for her father's murder.