Dhaka: BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today called upon all to remain united to build Bangladesh free from fascism following a struggle spanning over 16 years. “Today, the autocrat has fallen; the autocrat has been driven out of the country. Now we must build the nation, we must rebuild the country,” he said while joining virtually at the biannual conference of Cumilla South District BNP as the chief guest. He emphasized the need for collective effort to meet the people’s expectations in rebuilding the nation.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Rahman compared nation-building to constructing a house, stating that unity is essential for development. He remarked, “When a house is built, everyone must work together. When everyone works together, when the laborers work together, it is possible to build a beautiful house. But when a house has to be destroyed, not many people are needed.” He portrayed Bangladesh as a shared home that had been under threat from “robbers” for the past 15-16 years, urging citizens to collaborate in the rebuilding process.
Rahman called upon all BNP leaders and activists to engage with the public directly. He said, “Our first responsibility is to go to the people to build the country.” Rahman warned of the dangers of disunity, reflecting on past autocratic regimes and stressing the need to prevent a resurgence of hidden autocracy. He urged, “If we are not united today, if the democratic forces are not united, if we cannot unite the people of the country, then just as the autocrat sat on our shoulders after the independence of the country, just as the fascist autocrat sat on the country’s shoulders with the so-called election in 2008.”
He further highlighted the importance of aligning with citizens, stating that the BNP must proceed according to the people’s wishes. He stressed, “We must keep the people with us. If we want to stay with the people and keep them with us, then we must proceed as per the wish of the people…We must work, speak, and stand by the people as they desire. We must build the nation; there is no alternative to this.”
Rahman encouraged BNP members to engage directly with citizens, forming small teams to visit homes and convey the party’s message. “Each of you must form small teams of two or three people and go to the doorsteps and the homes of the people,” he said. The goal is to communicate that the BNP is committed to rebuilding the country and effecting positive change at all levels, reaching out to people across all demographics.
Finally, Rahman reiterated the party’s dedication to the nation’s welfare, stating, “Our goal is Bangladesh above all else. Wherever the interests of Bangladesh lie, there is the BNP; wherever the interests of Bangladesh lie, there is the nationalist force. That is the main point.”