BNP is committed to establishing the right to vote at any cost: Tarique Rahman

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has said that BNP is committed to establishing democracy and people's right to vote in the country at any cost.

He made this remarks at the 31-point BNP workshop in Thakurgaon, Panchagarh and Dinajpur districts on Thursday (April 24) evening. Leaders of BNP's training cell spoke at the day-long workshop highlighting various aspects of the 31 points.

Tarique Rahman said: "BNP and every one of its leaders and activists are committed today that democracy must be established in Bangladesh at any cost. People's right to vote must be established in Bangladesh at any cost. By establishing democracy in Bangladesh at any cost, people's economic independence must be established by establishing people's right to vote."

He said: "The struggle in which we have taken to the streets for the past 15 years is the establishment of democracy. For which many of our leaders and activists have been victims of disappearances and murders. Many leaders and activists have become disabled. Their sacrifice cannot be allowed to go in vain."

He further said: "In no country in the world is there a war, children are not killed. But in the July-August movement, we saw that about 100 children were killed in this country due to the indiscriminate torture of the fugitive dictatorship. These children had no crime. These children were killed. Why sacrifice these children, only to establish democracy."

Tarique Rahman said: "BNP has started reforms since the time of Shaheed Zia. When we proposed reforms, we ignored the bloodshot eyes of the dictatorship. And now those who are giving, you will judge it. We will fulfill what we have given. Reform is an ongoing process."

"We did not stop with just 31 points, we are going door to door with people. It has to be delivered through leaders and activists. BNP has done 70 percent of the good work of the country. I received more questions in the workshop about social, education, health, employment, women's empowerment, and environmental problems. People know that if BNP can do something good for the country, it can do it. BNP had to go through many ups and downs to gain this trust and confidence," he added.

Tarique Rahman said: "There is a difference between the people's wishes and the wishes of a group. We want to move the country forward on the basis of consensus. If the democratic rights of the people are obstructed, everything will be obstructed. Democracy and the right to vote must be established in the country at any cost. If you have to get votes in your favor, you have to go to the people. There is no alternative to being with the people at any cost."

"People trust the BNP. They think that if it is possible to do something for the country and the people, BNP can do it. So I am saying, we have to maintain the people's trust. We have no choice but the people. You have protested against tyranny. You have held processions, meetings, and struggles on the streets. This time, the people have to be united to build the country," he added.

The acting chairman of BNP further said that some political parties including BNP had young leadership, young colleagues, many of them have passed the age limit due to the movement and struggle. The victims of this are not only Chhatra Dal, but many people outside it. Those who did not support the politics of dictatorship. But because they were not in favor of the government, they also lost their jobs or were not given jobs. This reality must be considered.

Tarique Rahman said that if BNP comes to power, the goal will be to reach the doorstep of healthcare. Khaleda Zia became an example by introducing a free education system for women. During BNP's tenure, women's seats were increased. In that vein, women's seats will be increased from 50 to 100.

He also said that false propaganda is being spread against BNP. Leaders and activists must be careful about this. Because an invisible opponent against BNP is gradually becoming visible, and some other opponents are joining them. BNP has the ability to confront it. For this, BNP leaders and activists must be united in the field.

The workshop was chaired by Thakurgaon District BNP General Secretary Mirza Faisal Amin and was attended by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, BNP Joint Secretary General Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Panchagarh Central Committee Rural Development Affairs Secretary Farhad Hossain Azad, and Dinajpur District BNP President Advocate Mofazzal Hossain Dulal, among others.