Today, BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman virtually addressing a pre-iftar event in honor of BNP politicians at the Ladies Club in Eskaton. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, March 19, 2025 (BSS) - BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today said if misdeeds and extremism of religious bigots cannot be checked, extremist groups and defeated fascist forces would once again bury democracy in the country.

"Evil forces of religious extremists must be resisted to maintain the country's non-communal democratic character,” he said while virtually addressing a pre-iftar event in honor of BNP politicians at the Ladies Club in Eskaton here.

He underlined the need for ensuring the political and economic power of the people to keep the political process strong and sustainable.  The people, who were deprived of voting rights, are ready to exercise their franchise, he added.

Tarique Rahman suggested that the interim government should give the highest priority to the election in order to establish a democratic government that will remain accountable to the people through the people's votes.

“If we all remain united, if the freedom-loving people remain united, no conspiracy will work,” he said.

BNP acting chairman said in recent times, the oppression and rape of women and children have increased alarmingly.

It is impossible to move the country forward by leaving half of the country's population, women, insecure, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the National Consensus Commission has been formed and reform proposals have reached the political parties.

The proposals should be reviewed deeply to determine what is needed to take the country forward with the national history of the people of Bangladesh, its culture, its tradition, its 1971 liberation war, he said adding, “This should be the goal of all of us”.

LDP Chairman Oli Ahmed, Jamaat-e-Islami Naib-e-Amir Abdullah Md. Taher, National Citizen Party Convener Nahid Islam also spoke.

Nahid said the people of Bangladesh defeated Mujibism on August 5 and the fascists of the Awami League will not have place in the future political elections in Bangladesh.

“A trial process is underway and that question does not come before the trial. We will continue to call on our parties to come to a political consensus on this issue as well,” he said.

Jatiya Party (Kazi Jafar) Chairman Mustafa Jamal Haider, Nagorik Oikya President Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Gono Sanghati Andolon Chief Coordinator Jonayed Saki, and Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Noor spoke at the discussion moderated by BNP Publicity Secretary Sultan Salauddin Tuku.

CPB's Mohammad Shah Alam, Ruhin Hossain Prince, Khelafat Majlish's Amir Allama Mamunul Haque, Gano Forum's Subrata Chowdhury, Bangladesh's Biflippi Workers Party's Bohnishikha Jamali, Bangladesh JSD's Sharif Nurul Ambia, Nazmul Haque Prodhan, National People's Party's Fariduzzaman Farhad, Mostafizur Rahman Mostafa, AB Party's Mujibur Rahman Manju, Asaduzzaman Fuad, BLDP's Shahadat Hossain Selim, Gano Dal Chairman ATM Golam Maula Chowdhury, Jatiya Dal's Syed Ehsanul Huda, JSD's Shahid Uddin Mahmud Swapan, Labor Party's Mostafizur Rahman Iran, Islami Oikya Jote's Abdur Rakib, Bikalpadhara Bangladesh's Nurul Amin Bepari, Jamiat-e-Ulama-e-Islam's Mufti Mohiuddin Ikram, Jagpar's Khandaker Lutfur Rahman, Rashed Prodhan, Samyabadi Dal's Syed Nurul Islam and Jatiya Nagorik Party (SCP) Sarjis Alam, along with leaders of various political parties, participated.

BNP Standing Committee members Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salah Uddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Vice Chairman Barkat Ullah Bulu, Mir Nasir, Abdul Awal Mintu, Ahmed Azam Khan, Abdus Salam Pintu, Nitai Roy Chowdhury, Chairperson's Advisory Council members Aman Ullah Aman, Mizanur Rahman Minu, Afroza Khan Rita, Zahir Uddin Swapan, Ismail Zabihullah, Habibur Rahman Habib, and leaders of central and local organizations were present.