“Not Delhi, not Pindi, Bangladesh first”—Tarique Rahman warns while calling for elections

“Not Delhi, not Pindi; not any other country; Bangladesh first”—BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has called on party leaders and activists to awaken at the youth rally with this slogan. He said that an elected and accountable government is needed to implement the people’s verdict. The current situation indicates that the ruling circles are once again playing the game of evasion around the national election.

He made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest while virtually joining the “Youth Rally” organized by the Nationalist Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal and Chhatra Dal in front of the BNP central office in Nayapaltan in the capital on Wednesday (May 28).

Tarique Rahman said, “A neutral and elected government is needed to implement any political program. But today we see that time is being wasted under the guise of so-called reforms. Some sections of the interim government may be consciously creating confusion.”

He alleged, “It is pointless to expect reforms from those who do not obey the court orders and do not show respect for the law. The way in which obstacles have been created in the assumption of office of Ishraq Hossain, an elected councilor of Dhaka South City Corporation, is a naked manifestation of an authoritarian mentality.”

He commented that although about 35 million new voters have been added to the voter list in the last one and a half decades, they have not had the opportunity to vote in a fair national election. Tarique Rahman said, “The future of these young voters depends on a free, fair and impartial election. The interim government should make visible preparations to organize the election now.”

He said that in the past, caretaker governments have completed the national elections impartially within just three months. However, the current interim government has not announced the date of the election even after 10 months. Organizing elections to establish a democratic, accountable government as per the expectations of the people is the need of the hour.

The acting chairman of BNP directly announced, “The national election must be completed by next December.” He told the interim government, “If you want to be a government of the people, then resign, join the ranks of the people, and hold elections. If you win, then run the country for the people.”

Tarique Rahman told BNP leaders and activists, “Go to the people. Try to know their hopes and aspirations. Remember, the people are the source of all political power of BNP.”

The rally was presided over by Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal President Monayem Munna. Swechchhasebak Dal General Secretary Rajib Ahsan and Chhatra Dal General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir. BNP Standing Committee Member Dr. also spoke at the event. Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Mirza Abbas, Gayeshwar Chandra Roy, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salahuddin Ahmed.

At the end of his speech, Tarique Rahman addressed the countrymen—
“Not Delhi, not Pindi; not any other country; Bangladesh first.”