Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman spoke today. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Jan 25, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today said the people are the source of BNP's political strength.

"No conspiracy can defeat us, if the people stay with us,” he said adding that if BNP gets opportunity to run the state through the people's mandate in future, an 'Education Reform Commission' will be formed on priority basis.

The BNP Acting Chairman made the remarks while virtually addressing the National Teachers' Conference here.

Pro-BNP teachers-employees organization Shikkhak-Karmachari Oikya Jote organized the event at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) auditorium marking the 89th birth anniversary of BNP founder Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman and National Teachers' Day.

Tarique Rahman said in the current competitive global perspectives, there is no alternative to establishing a knowledge-based society to survive as an influential nation-state.
 
“Therefore, the big challenge before us at this moment is to establish a knowledge-based society. To face this challenge, we have to be enriched in logic, argument, money, talent, thinking, knowledge and science,” he said.

BNP Standing Committee Members Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Begum Selima Rahman, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, among others, spoke at this event with Selim Bhaiya, president of the host organization in the chair.

Tarique Rahman said, "I believe that no matter how many initiatives we take for state and political reform or civic development, to achieve ultimate success...There is no alternative to modernizing the education system and ensuring the socio-economic security and respect of teachers for overall development of the country."

Mentioning that teachers are the role models for students after their families at the beginning of their lives, he questioned if teachers face hardship and don’t get proper respect in society, then how is it possible for a teacher to present himself as a role model to students, he questioned.

The BNP acting chairman said, the state and government must take necessary initiatives to create a proper education system and learning environment so that teachers can present themselves as role models to students with confidence.

Stating that the teaching profession is not an ordinary job, Tarique Rahman said that it is the responsibility of the state and the government as well to ensure an environment where the most talented people in education are interested in choosing the teaching profession as their first priority with joy.

He said it is important to make the job of a school teacher, especially at the primary and secondary levels, more competitive and attractive by ensuring economic prosperity, comfort and honour.

Tarique Rahman said that every year on various important national days, including Independence Day or Victory Day, people from different classes and professions of society are invited at Bangabhaban and the Prime Minister's official residence under the initiative of the state as the head of state and head of the government exchange greetings with the invited guests. 

“I think that it is necessary to invite at least one teacher from primary and secondary schools in the list of invitees on such days. Because, I believe that if students see the respectful position and behavior of their 'role model' teachers in various fields of the state and society, it will definitely have a positive impact on the psyche of the young students.”

He underscored the need for creating an environment that creates a relationship of mutual trust and respect between teachers and students.

“We often say one thing; this should be kept above politics that should be kept outside politics. I personally disagree with such an idea in principle. Because, no matter what we say, in a democratic state, everything is ultimately managed in the light of political decisions,” he said.

Therefore, keeping something above politics or keeping it outside politics is not a solution to keep something pure. Rather, it is important to purify politics. It is important for politics to be pure and transparent, he added.

Tarique Rahman said unless there is a qualitative change in the existing politics in the country, it is not possible to fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people. 

Keeping this goal in mind, BNP has presented a 31-point reform outline to the people in consultation with all democratic political parties in Bangladesh to reform the state, politics and political parties, he said adding that BNP would implement each reform program in phases if it gets the people's mandate.

Stating that the aspirations of the Great War of Liberation were not reflected in the country's constitution, Tarique Rahman said, the fugitive dictator has distorted the state constitution as per their wish and has almost transformed it into a party constitution. 

“Similarly, it has made constitutional institutions like the Election Commission or the ACC ineffective,” he added. 

In this connection, Tarique Rahman said the ACC has been turned into a toothless tiger. In such a reality, the current interim government has undertaken reform programmes on several important issues, including the Election Commission, the ACC and constitutional reform, he said. 

Although there are some procedural differences with the BNP's 31-point reform outline and the interim government's reform programme on one or two issues, there is no fundamental conflict in it, he mentioned.

Tarique Rahman reiterated that BNP is in favor of reforms and elections as both are important. 
About commodity prices, he underscored the need for taking effective measures to keep the price of essentials within the purchasing capacity of the low income group.  

The acting chairman of BNP called upon the leaders and activists of all levels of his party to remain vigil so that no one gets the opportunity to spread confusion or engage in debates about any activity of BNP.