BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has called on the interim government to prioritise holding free and fair elections rather than advancing any political party’s agenda. Speaking virtually in Dhaka on Saturday, he also warned that instability could allow “defeated and fugitive authoritarian forces” from the past to undermine Bangladesh’s democratic progress.
Tarique’s remarks came amid growing political debate over the implementation of the July Charter, the proportional representation (PR) system and the schedule for a proposed referendum ahead of the next national elections.
The interim administration, led by Muhammad Yunus, took office on 8 August last year following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government during a mass uprising three days earlier. Since then, BNP and several other parties have been urging the caretaker government to announce the election date.
Tarique, the de facto leader of BNP, said the key task of the post-Hasina administration was to ensure a democratic transition through credible voting. He emphasised that BNP had chosen to express its disagreements “in a decent and democratic way” rather than through pressure tactics.
Without naming any party, he warned that some groups involved in the anti-fascist movement could, “knowingly or unknowingly, create instability that undermines people’s rights and opportunities.” He cautioned that such instability could pave the way for the “rehabilitation of defeated and fugitive fascist forces of the past.”
Tarique drew parallels with the previous authoritarian period, saying that some of those who once used covert tactics to survive “might now be employing similar methods to obstruct democratic progress.” He urged the interim government and all democratic forces to remain vigilant.
Referring to the events of 5 August 2024, when the former regime collapsed, Tarique called for continued national unity to prevent the return of repressive elements. “The defeated forces of August 5 must not be allowed to destabilise the country under the cover of any political banner,” he said.
He reaffirmed BNP’s commitment to working with the interim government and pro-democracy groups, stressing that the party’s political culture values tolerance, cooperation and respect for differing opinions.
“BNP remains a peaceful, people-oriented party dedicated to ensuring political and economic empowerment through democratic means,” he said.
The event was organised by Matua Bahujan Samaj Oikya Jote at the Krishibid Institution in Dhaka’s Farmgate area.
