Tarique welcomes students' move to form party, but warns against abusing state support
BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has welcomed the move announced by students, who led the 2024 July uprising, of forming a political party.
Speaking virtually at a discussion on Saturday (25 January), he said, "If any of these young people, deprived of democratic and political rights, form a new political party to establish the rights of the people, the BNP certainly welcomes the initiative. But if anyone seeks help from the state and administrative support to form a political party, it will disappoint the people."
Jatiya Shikkhak Karmachari Oikya Jote arranged the programme titled "Jatiya Shikkhak Dibos and Shikkhak Samabesh" at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking the 89th birth anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
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"The country's students and youth have become interested in the state and political system, which is certainly a positive aspect," Tarique said.
He said the young people have not been able to vote in a single election in the last one and a half decade.
He also said that if the behaviour, comments, or statements of those intending to form a new party are antagonistic and vindictive towards other political parties, that would also be undesirable to the people.
"Of course, today's youth are the future of Bangladesh. The youth will create a new path by coming out of the past, but not in a questionable way. The path should be transparent and normal," Tarique opined.
Tarique also said indulging controversies over the national elections will only strengthen the position of the defeated fascist forces.
Any misunderstanding or unnecessary argument between the interim government and the pro-democracy forces of Bangladesh is a waste of time, he said.
"But at the same time, I want to draw the attention of the government and say that if the people can patiently accept its failures in various areas, it is important for those in the government to have much more patience and tolerance," the BNP leader said.
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As the BNP pursues politics for the welfare of the people, he said his party aims to ensure the people's political and economic power.
"Election is one of the main effective tools to ensure the political power of the people. Creating controversy over the election arrangement means unwittingly strengthening the position of fugitive and defeated fascist forces," Tarique said.
He also instructed party leaders and activists at all levels to remain alert to ensure that no one creates confusion or provokes controversy over their activities.
"The people are the source of BNP's political power, and as long as the people are with us, no conspiracy will be able to defeat us, Inshallah," Tarique said.
The BNP acting chairman's statement comes amid a political debate triggered by his party's Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir expressing doubts over the the interim government's neutrality with students being part of it, which Adviser Nahid Islam, one of the student leaders of the uprising, countered by suggesting Fakhrul's statement indicated the BNP would prefer a '1/11'-style government.
