TDS Desk:

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday asked his party followers to stay vigilant until restoration of democracy as the most important task for them now is to establish democracy by foiling conspiracies against Bangladesh at any cost.

“Our two important tasks in the coming days are — to establish democracy by resisting conspiracies against Bangladesh at any cost and build the country as per public aspirations,” he said.

Tarique made the remarks while addressing the biennial council of Thakurgaon district BNP unit at Thakurgaon Boys High School ground through a virtual platform.

He said BNP’s movement would continue until the democratic rights of people are restored and Bangladesh returns to the track of democracy.

“Let’s vow in this council that BNP will not stop its movement until Bangladesh gets back on the rail-track of democracy,” he said.

As the country’s largest political party in the country, Tarique said BNP has a ‘sacred responsibility’ to rebuild Bangladesh.

“We have already outlined the framework for this (building Bangladesh) through the 31-point framework we unveiled two and a half years ago,” he added.

BNP Acting Chairman urged party leaders and activists to make two pledges from the council: to remain vigilant like sentinels until democracy is restored and to dedicate them to fulfilling public aspirations and the party’s 31-point reform agenda if BNP assumes office through the people’s mandate, even at the cost of their lives.

“As the largest political party in Bangladesh, it is our responsibility to confront any threat to democracy,” he said.

Tarique, however, said that BNP’s movement must refrain from any course of action that disrupts peace and discipline. “As a political party, our responsibility is to ensure that no one can undermine democracy in any way,” he said.

Talking about state reforms, the BNP leader said his party unveiled the 31-point reform agenda two and a half years ago and the interim government formed reform commissions where almost all democratic political parties provide their opinions over various issues. On some issues, all parties agreed, while there are differences over some other issues, he added.

He said it is natural that different political parties and different people have differences in opinion. “We think it is natural in the democratic system that there might be differences in opinions,” he said.

Talking about the issues where differences remain, Tarique said, “If you truly have trust and confidence in the people, then leave it to them. Present your policies, ideology and objectives before the people and let people decide.”

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir also spoke at the district council held after 8 years.