Tarique questions if reform talks are a tactic to delay people's govt

BNP acting chairperson Tarique Rahman today (5 February) raised concerns over whether the continued emphasis on reforms is being used as a pretext to delay the establishment of a people's government.

"We notice that some people are prolonging all kinds of processes by talking about reforms, reforms. Today, we have to see whether this (harping on reforms) is a conspiracy. If this process is prolonged on the plea of reforms, then the country's problems will multiply," he said while addressing a programme at Saber Pilot High School field of Songazi in Feni through a virtual platform.

The event was arranged on the occasion of providing a new house as a gift from Tarique Rahman to the family of Sonagazi Upazila's slain Jubo Dal leader Mohammad Masud.

Tarique said the people's government must be established to address various existing problems like commodity price-hike, unemployment problem, poor education system and poor law and order condition – in line with the public expectation.

"The sooner we can establish a people's government, the sooner we will be able to lead Bangladesh on the path to prosperity," he said.

'Movement to continue'

The BNP acting chairman asked the BNP leaders and activists to take a promise not to stop their struggle and movement until the dignity of Masud and others who were killed by the previous dictator regimes and the people's rule are established.

"Our struggle will not stop; rather our movement will continue until the people's rule is established ….. Our movement will continue until that democracy is established," he said.

Tarique said the rule of democracy for the people of Bangladesh must be established in a bid to pay due respect to the souls of those who were martyred during the movement against the dictatorship.

'Fugitive dictator can no way be spared'

The BNP leader said the dictator (meaning Hasina) who fled Bangladesh can no way be spared from justice for killing and injuring so many people during her regime. Thousands of people were victims of killings and enforced disappearances, while tens of thousands of people injured and thousands of people crippled before her fleeing, he said.

Tarique Rahman said those who are responsible for these killings and tortures must be tried under the law of the land. "Those who are responsible for these killings must be brought to justice."

Tarique said those who are responsible for those incidents would be encouraged in future if their leader (Hasina) is not tried.

He urged all pro-democracy political activists and political parties to be united in a one point that the dictator who fled to India must be brought to justice. "She can no way be spared. She is responsible for these killings."

The BNP acting chairman asked their leaders and activists to stay alert so that infiltrators will not be able to hamper their movement for restoration of democracy.

"All of you have to be vigilant and alert against all these infiltrators so that they can in no way disrupt our movement to establish democracy," said Tarique.

BNP vice chairman Abdul Awal Mintoo, senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, joint secretary general Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie and BNP Chairperson's advisory council member Zainul Abedin Farroque, among others, spoke on the occasion.

At the function, the key of the newly constructed house was handed over to Masud's spouse in the function.

Masud, a victim of extrajudicial killing, was shot dead in a so-called crossfire on 25 June 2016.

Since his death, his family, including his wife and daughter—now a tenth grader—has been struggling, prompting the BNP acting chairman to extend his support.