BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman is widely accepted as a national leader across the country and can contest the 13th national election from any constituency, said the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Rizvi said Tarique is an icon of the electoral process and the centre of voters’ enthusiasm.
He made the remarks on Sunday morning while formally inaugurating a rally organised by the Jatiotabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha (JASAS), following tribute and prayers at the mausoleum of martyred president Ziaur Rahman, to mark the organisation’s 47th founding anniversary.
Rizvi said contesting from Dhaka would be logical given its status as the capital, while Bogura – the birthplace of Ziaur Rahman – is also a natural political choice for Tarique Rahman. He noted that BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had been elected multiple times from Bogura in the past.
Rizvi further said the shadow of hegemony still looms large, with certain quarters conspiring to undermine Bangladesh’s sovereignty and independence. However, he expressed confidence that the country’s thousand-year-old history, heritage and culture are strong enough to defeat such attempts, as they have done in the past.
Calling for resistance against autocratic forces, Rizvi said cultural activists of JASAS would play a leading role by inspiring the nation through songs, poetry, drama and literary activities, thereby helping build a strong national culture.
