Dhaka: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today emphasized that the party maintains no discord with the interim government concerning reform programs. He pointed out that individuals questioning whether elections or reforms should take precedence are driven by ulterior motives.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Tarique Rahman made these remarks while virtually addressing the annual general meeting of the Dhaka Union of Journalists (DUJ) at the Jatiya Press Club, with DUJ President Md Shahidul Islam presiding. He highlighted that the BNP was the first to propose a 27-point state reform agenda in 2022, which later expanded to 31 points after consultations with other democratic political parties.
Among the BNP’s 31-point proposals was the formation of a media commission comprising a retired Supreme Court judge and seasoned journalists. Rahman noted that the interim government has already established a media reform commission, indicating no disagreement between the BNP and
the interim government on the reform agenda.
Rahman reiterated that reform is a continuous process that requires qualitative improvement in democratic political culture to be effective. He stressed that reforms cannot achieve their desired outcomes if the everyday challenges faced by the populace are not addressed.
The BNP acting chairman demanded a free, fair, and neutral election within a reasonable timeframe alongside ongoing reforms. He noted that while elections are crucial in democratic practice to uphold people’s rights, they should not be viewed solely as a means for a single party to gain power. Elections, he said, provide citizens the opportunity to exercise their political rights, thereby reinforcing the relationship of ownership between the people and the state.
Rahman emphasized the necessity of politically empowering the populace to prevent the state and government from falling into fascist tendencies. He also addressed the annual meeting alongside notable figures such as BNP Standing Committ
ee Member Professor Dr. AZM Zahid Hossain, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, and others.
Rahman expressed a desire to create a nation where incidents like the Sagar-Runi murder are not met with state indifference. He criticized the previous Awami League (AL) regime for its repression of journalists, citing the deaths of at least six journalists during the July uprising and the loss of around 400 BNP leaders and workers amidst the mass movement.
Furthermore, he urged media organizations to offer employment to journalists who lost their jobs or remained unemployed due to political retaliation under the prior AL administration. He acknowledged that dissidence among journalists, writers, and intellectuals is a hallmark of democratic political culture but lamented that such dissent was harshly suppressed during the AL regime, where journalistic objectivity was often compromised.