BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has urged party leaders and activists to stay united and protect public trust as he warned of what he described as ongoing plots to block the restoration of democracy and people’s voting rights in Bangladesh.
Speaking virtually on Monday at the biennial council of the BNP Naogaon District Council, Rahman said various groups were working to derail the party’s plans to move the country forward and improve living standards.
“The hopes and plans of BNP are to move the country forward. But conspiracies are slowly being hatched to stop these plans,” he said, adding that attempts were also underway to prevent a return to democracy.
Rahman reminded party members of a warning he made shortly after the fall of the previous regime, predicting the next national election would be the toughest in the country’s history. He said events over the past year had convinced many that his assessment was accurate.
He told members that the party could overcome challenges if everyone followed two principles: keeping the trust and support of the people intact and avoiding any actions that could harm the BNP’s image.
“The real capital of a political party is the support, love and trust of the people,” Rahman said. “We must refrain completely — 100% — from actions that damage that trust.”
He also urged vigilance against what he called opportunists, describing them as people who appear only when the party is close to power and exploit it for personal gain.
Recalling the immense price BNP activists paid in past struggles—enduring arrests, torture, and losing their lives in custody—Rahman called on members to uphold their legacy. He said the only way to do that was to ensure their actions built faith with the people, not betray it.
Calling for unity, he asked leaders in Naogaon to choose new leadership with honesty, courage, and dedication. “Today, you made two promises — to stay united and to protect people’s trust in BNP. Please keep those promises,” he said.
Rahman also referred to the BNP’s 31-point plan, first proposed more than two years ago, which he said anticipated many of the reforms now under discussion in the interim government.
He argued that the BNP’s governance experience had informed those proposals, which aimed to repair institutions damaged under the previous administration.
The BNP leader closed his remarks by urging members across the country to remain united “like brothers and sisters” to confront challenges ahead and work toward establishing democracy.
