BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman will come back to Bangladesh on 25 December, said party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Friday – aiming to put an end to speculations about his political move.
“We are pleased to announce that Tarique Rahman will be returning to Bangladesh on December 25. His return is not only welcomed but also celebrated,” said Fakhrul, emerging from an emergency meeting of BNP’s Standing Committee – the party’s top policymaking body – which was attended virtually by Tarique himself.
In a separate development, Tarique has condemned the shooting of Inquilab Mancha Convener Sharif Osman Hadi, as not just an attack on an individual but as a blatant attempt to endanger the country’s existence.
“The country is going through a crisis,” the BNP leader said while speaking virtually at a seminar in the capital on Friday, describing the attack as a direct threat to the nation’s stability.
“A certain quarter has been actively trying to destroy the country’s peace and order. They are attempting to undermine the very existence of this nation. The shooting of Osman Hadi is clear proof of their intentions,” he alleged.
During the seminar held at the Khamarbari Krishibid Institute in Dhaka under the theme “BNP’s Plan for Building Nation,” Tarique condemned the shooting that took place on Friday, leaving Osman Hadi critically injured.
He said, “It is a tragic incident that Osman Hadi has been shot. Before this, a BNP candidate was targeted with the same intent to kill. Everyone who believes in democracy should strongly condemn this act of violence.”
Reflecting on the current political atmosphere, the BNP leader highlighted the turmoil the country is undergoing. “For a year now, one political party has been openly threatening that elections will not be allowed in this country,” he said.
Tarique further appealed to all parties, individuals, and groups who believe in democracy, oppose fascism, and support the country’s sovereignty to unite even more than before.
He urged party members to stay alert and avoid spreading any confusion, while assuring the administration and investigators of full cooperation in identifying the perpetrators.
Concluding his speech, Tarique said, “We must stand up against injustice and ensure that the people of this country regain the democracy they have lost at any cost.”
