It's high time to restore just, democratic Bangladesh through voting: Tarique Rahman

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today stated that now is the right time to establish and implement effective mechanisms to institutionalise democracy, ensuring that fascist and authoritarian forces can no longer suppress the rights of the people in the future, reports BSS.

"The pro-democracy political parties have continued to support the interim government in the interest of establishing a government accountable to the people through the people's voting rights although there may already be some disappointment in the public mind regarding the goodwill or ability of the interim government to institutionalize democracy," he said.

He made these remarks while addressing the 8th founding anniversary of the Nationalist Democratic Movement (NDM) through virtually held at a city hotel.

NDM Chairman Bobby Hazzaz presided over the event while leaders of different political parties were present.

Tarique Rahman said the pro-democratic political parties of Bangladesh, including BNP, have been urging the interim government to announce a roadmap for its work plan from the beginning. Considering everything, the people observed that the government has not responded to that call, he added.

Tarique Rahman said a kind of instability both inside and outside the government has been seen just after only 10 months. If the government fails to understand the language, hopes and aspirations of the people, political instability will continue to increase in the country, he added.

He said, "We believe that if instability increases in the country like this, it will become difficult for the government to handle the situation. Therefore, we would like to urge the interim government to be more cautious."

The BNP acting chairman said the people are in the dark about the thoughts and action plan of the interim government. "Unrest may be increased in the political arena. We see that people from different classes and professions gathering on the streets every day with almost different demands," he added.

He said pro-democratic political parties continue their support to the interim government in the interest of establishing a government accountable to the people through vote.

Urging the interim government to announce a clear date for the national election, Tarique Rahman said if a government accountable to the people cannot be established through the people's vote, it will not be easy to confront the fallen dictatorship.

He also expressed hope that the interim government will announce the date of the national election and fulfill its responsibility to establish the rights of the people of Bangladesh soon.