Sadrul Ain:
In the decision taken at the extended meeting of the BNP ahead of the 13th National Parliament election, a firm determination has been declared to move forward on the path of victory by properly evaluating the honest and dedicated leaders and activists of the party.
At the same time, the interim government has been called upon to complete the necessary reforms to hold a free, fair and impartial election and hold the national parliamentary election as soon as possible.
This information was given in a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on Friday.
BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia and Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman addressed the extended meeting virtually from London on Thursday. More than 3,000 central and grassroots leaders from across the country participated in the meeting. Ten decisions were taken in this extended meeting, held after seven years.
The decisions taken are: - instructing leaders and activists of all levels of the BNP and all member parties and associate organizations to be active among the people with people-friendly programs and to earn the respect and love of the people through words and deeds.
At the same time, this meeting is also issuing strict instructions to everyone to refrain from all anti-people activities and internal conflicts, including neglect in implementing party policies, ideals, and programs, and corruption and injustice.
The decision taken further states that it is the responsibility of all democracy-loving patriotic citizens to provide all-out cooperation to ensure the success of all daily activities of the interim government for the public welfare and that the main responsibility of this government is to restore democracy to the people by establishing their elected government. First and foremost, it is the responsibility of all democracy-loving patriotic citizens to provide all-out cooperation in the free, fair and impartial national parliamentary elections.
This meeting demands a clear explanation from the government on how the illegal head of government, who was responsible for countless anti-people and anti-human crimes including disappearances, murders, and disappearances during the fascist regime, and his identified associates, left the country without incident, and how countless criminals are still roaming freely.
At the same time, the assembly is expressing anger and dissatisfaction over the delay in trying and punishing these criminals, despite clear evidence against them and credible allegations from domestic and foreign organizations.
This meeting believes that the government needs to be more proactive in taking effective diplomatic and legal measures against those abroad who are conspiring and spreading propaganda against the country's independence, sovereignty, and peace and order, and against their domestic collaborators.
At the same time, this meeting strongly demands the immediate withdrawal of all false and missing cases filed by the fallen fascist government and its collaborators, the 1/11 government.
The decision also said that democracy is only established through the people voting and electing their representatives to govern the state through free, fair and impartial national parliamentary elections. The people of this country have been deprived of this fundamental right for almost a century and a half.
As a result, any excuse to prolong this deprivation is unacceptable to them.
The decision taken further stated that it is the demand of the hour to continue working with all anti-fascist parties/organizations to implement the state reform program in light of the 31-point outline for repairing the state structure announced by Tarique Rahman.
This meeting proposes to implement the reform proposals adopted by consensus immediately, which can be implemented before the elections, and to submit those reforms that require changes to the law or the constitution for approval to the elected National Assembly.
In the light of the statement of Begum Khaleda Zia and the President of the meeting, the brave and successful leader of the time, Tarique Rahman, this meeting is declaring its firm determination to move forward on the path of victory by implementing the motto of 'unity is strength, unity is freedom', which was proclaimed by the great independence proclaimer and founder of BNP, martyred President Ziaur Rahman Bir Uttam - 'The party is bigger than the individual, the country is bigger than the party'.
It is necessary to build mass resistance by taking into confidence all political parties and class-professional organizations participating in the anti-fascist movement and collectively against the businessmen and syndicates created and benefiting from the fallen government, as well as those who are trying to disrupt public life in the name of the movement for irrational reasons.
The government's failure to take legal and effective action against those involved in extortion, encroachment and chaos is unacceptable. After the illegal government imprisoned Begum Khaleda Zia on false and fabricated charges to satisfy political vendetta, when the democracy-loving people of the country, the leaders and activists of the BNP and its affiliated organizations were worried about the movement and future of the country, the party and the people, Tarique Rahman, the party's senior vice chairman, who was forced to stay abroad due to the oppression of the autocratic government and was ill, had to take charge as the acting chairman of the country's largest political party, BNP, with infinite courage.
When the party's chairperson is in prison, when numerous party leaders and activists are missing, imprisoned, injured and subjected to unlimited persecution, and when a populist government has seized state power and blocked the path to normal politics - in such a difficult time, Tarique Rahman took charge and worked tirelessly day and night, led the party through joint decisions, and maintained regular contact with leaders and activists at all levels of the party and its affiliate organizations, thereby consolidating the party and accelerating the movement. This is an example of making the impossible possible.
Under his leadership and guidance, with the aim of consolidating, strengthening and expanding the movement and ensuring victory, for the first time in Bangladesh, the unity of numerous political parties of the right-left-center-right-center-left and the simultaneous movement to implement the outline of repairing the 31-point state structure by realizing one-point demands initiated a new and successful trend in the country's politics. It was along the path of this simultaneous movement that the mass uprising was successful in July-August 2024 in exchange for the sacrifices of thousands of students, workers and the public; the head of the illegal government fled the country and fascism fell.
The strategic, active and important role of BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman in establishing and strengthening the foundation of this anti-fascist mass uprising and making it a success has earned the praise of the democracy-loving people.
This meeting pays deep respect to Tarique Rahman for taking responsibility during the party's difficult times, strengthening the party's activities, uniting and consolidating the party, building greater national unity, and above all, playing a decisive role in the fall of fascism.
At the same time, this meeting also congratulates him for the humanitarian leadership he has established in the country's political history by helping the leaders and activists who were killed, injured, and affected by the long-lasting movement.
