Tarique Rahman delivered the chief guest speech on a 'virtual platform' from London at the Iftar and Doa Mahfil organized by the Jatiyatabadi Somomona Jote at Fars Hotel in Old Paltan in the capital today. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, March 23, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called upon the politicians to work together to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people of the country.

"The autocratic Hasina has been forced to leave because the people have supported the political parties for a change. Now, we should talk about the issues of the people. This is politics. Let us all work together to fulfill the expectations of the people," he said.

Tareq Rahman was virtually addressing as the chief guest at an Iftar and Doa Mahfil organized by the Jatiyatabadi Somomona Jote at a Purna Paltan hotel.

"When the people of the country were in a great crisis, all the pro-democracy parties were on the streets together against dictatorship. All those pro-democracy parties came together and presented 31 points to the nation two years ago. Because, we saw how the dictator destroyed every institution in the country. The first thing it destroyed was the country's electoral system," he said.

Noting that dictator Sheikh Hasina has destroyed all sectors of the country, the acting chairman of BNP said, "The institutions of the state that were destroyed; they must be repaired again. Because, the biggest capital of our politics is the people of the country. If we cannot repair these structures of the state, we will not be able to take the country to the desired goal. We will not be able to build it according to the expectations of the people."

"There is talk around us about various issues, including reforms. I want to say this with respect to everyone; many people are saying a lot about reforms. Our party BNP was the first to say that everything in Bangladesh needed reform,” he said.

Tarique Rahman said, “Bangladesh became independent due to the sacrifices of millions of people. After that, many people have disrupted democracy at different times. The uprising of the students and the masses in 'July-August', the support of the public for political parties, made it possible to expel the mafia dictatorship from this country. The fact that the people have come out on the streets, have stood by the political parties, everyone has felt that a change is necessary, this is what accelerates the dream of forming a new country”.

Regarding discussions taking place in the political arena about reform, he said, “We are talking about reform. We are talking about an upper house parliament, the balance of power, how many times a person can become prime minister. If the issues of reform that the media is hot on are changed or revised, perhaps the political parties will benefit. But at the end of the day, shouldn't we talk about issues related to the interests of the people, who are the biggest capital of our politics? Of course we should. Because, they (the people) are the biggest capital of our politics.'

The acting chairman of the BNP said, “Surely the people of Bangladesh want to know, how long will they have to wait for an ambulance to reach the hospital emergency room with their sick loved ones. How quickly that ambulance will arrive and take that sick person to the hospital is the responsibility of the politicians. This is what the people of the country expect. So let us start discussing the expectations of the people along with reforms.”

At this event, BNP Standing Committee Member Mirza Abbas said, 'There is an attempt to push the BNP into the same camp as the Awami League. Especially one party is doing this; I don't understand why it is being done.'

He also said, “Everyone is against the BNP. They are trying to belittle the BNP. However, there is no crisis in the BNP leadership. And there is no chance of leaving the Awami League. We want institutional justice for the Awami League.”

This senior BNP leader expressed his fear saying some foreign agents want that peace and order should not come to this country in any way and that is why they are trying.

The Iftar and Doa Mahfil was presided over by the coordinator of the Nationalist Like-minded Alliance and the chairman of the National People’s Party, Dr. Fariduzzaman Farhad. Leaders of various political parties were present at the Iftar Mahfil.