BNP Standing Committee Member Abdul Moyeen Khan has warned against the belief that the youth alone can build Bangladesh, calling it a grave mistake.
He shared his views during the launch of the book ‘Politics of Tarique Rahman: The Sublimity of Mass Uprising’ at the Jatiya Press Club in Dhaka on Saturday.
Moyeen Khan emphasized that the country’s progress has not been driven solely by a select group of students from Dhaka or Dhaka University but by the collective efforts of marginalized individuals, rickshaw-pullers, and ordinary citizens from rural areas. He pointed out that the aspirations, desire for democracy, and quest for economic freedom of these people are essential components of the nation-building process.
While recognizing the vital role of youth in leading movements, the BNP leader acknowledged that the contributions of farmers and the general populace have been equally indispensable in shaping the nation’s progress.
“People are not monsters or demons; they seek democracy,” he remarked, adding that their goal is to create a nation that guarantees good governance, human rights, and the fulfillment of basic needs.
Addressing the topic of reforms, he stated that change cannot be expected to come from the air-conditioned rooms of Dhaka, highlighting that reforms are a gradual and continuous process.
“Reforms are not as simple as flipping a switch,” he said.
Reflecting on the current government’s performance, Moyeen Khan noted that while the expected outcomes have not been realized, the government has at least provided a timeline for the election, albeit with delays.
The event was attended by the book’s author, Professor Saiful Islam of Dhaka University’s Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, along with various academics and public figures. These included Professor Liaquat Ali, founder of the Centre for Cultural Development; Dr Dil Rowshan Jinnat Ara Nazneen, Pro-VC of Bangladesh Open University; and Dr Jamal Uddin Runu, former professor at Jahangirnagar University.
Professor Dr Mohammad Amirul Islam, General Secretary of the Nationalist Teachers’ Forum at Rajshahi University, presided over the ceremony.
