Conspiracies may intensify, but we must not fear: Tarique Rahman

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has stated that ongoing conspiracies against the party have not ceased and may even intensify in the future. 

However, he emphasised that the party and its supporters must remain fearless and avoid panic.

He made the comments during a virtual keynote address from London at a workshop titled "Planning for Nation Building," organised by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh auditorium in Dhaka's Farmgate area on Saturday. 

The event marked the seventh day of a series of workshops, with field-level leaders participating.

Addressing party leaders and activists, the BNP Acting Chairman remarked, "As I mentioned earlier, the upcoming elections will not be straightforward. The conspiracies have not ended. Recent events, including Friday's incident and the shooting targeting our candidate in Chittagong, are gradually confirming what I had warned about." 

He added that failure to resolve internal differences and achieve unity could lead to the destruction of the country.

He stressed the need to instill courage in the people, foster internal unity, and bring together all democracy-loving citizens across the nation. 

"The greater our unity and the stronger our advancement, the more inevitable elections become. By creating such momentum, we can compel the conspirators to back down." 

He asserted that only the BNP possesses the capability and strength to effectively counter these conspirators.

Pointing to the party's historical role, Tarique Rahman noted that the BNP has repeatedly saved the country from ruin. 

"Whenever this nation has teetered on the brink of collapse—whether under the leadership of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman or national leader Begum Khaleda Zia—you have steadily pulled it back from the abyss."

Regarding the shooting incidents involving candidates in Chittagong and Dhaka, he said, "One incident occurred in Chittagong, and another on Friday. These are undoubtedly attempts by certain parties to gain undue advantage, and we should not underestimate that."

Tarique Rahman elaborated on the BNP's detailed proposals, including initiatives for canal excavation, health cards, farmer cards, family cards, reforms in the education system, solutions to unemployment, advancements in information technology, and measures to combat air and water pollution, along with their implementation strategies. 

He stated, "Now is the moment to shift focus from personal gains to contributions for the country and the nation. It is time to forget what we have received and prioritise what we can give. If we act today for the sake of the nation, our children and grandchildren will thrive in a secure future. Let us commit to establishing peace, order, and the rule of law in Bangladesh."

He further urged, "This is not the time to remain at home. We must emerge and fight to win this battle. Our greatest ally in this struggle is the people of Bangladesh. Victory can only be achieved alongside them—there is no other path. I seek your cooperation in three specific areas, and InshaAllah, I will receive it. We shall meet on the battlefield, in the field of struggle, and at the polling stations."

In his opening remarks, BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury described the nation-building programme as a reflection of the BNP's commitments, vision, and dreams outlined by leader Tarique Rahman for the future of the country. He expressed delight, stating, "On the 25th, Bangladesh's most popular leader—the one the nation has been awaiting, whose return will restore democracy and democratic processes in politics—will arrive. The struggles of recent years have united the nation under his leadership. As the hero of that movement and the torchbearer of democracy, Tarique Rahman will return to Bangladesh on the 25th, InshaAllah."

The workshop was presided over by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and moderated by Joint Secretary General Habib Un Nabi Khan Sohel.

Separately, in a message issued on the eve of Martyred Intellectuals Day, Tarique Rahman paid profound tribute to the intellectuals—teachers, doctors, writers, journalists, artists, and others—who were martyred by the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators on December 14, 1971. 

He prayed for the salvation of their souls. "December 14 serves as a solemn remembrance of the nation's finest children. Inspired by patriotism, these martyred intellectuals stood with the people, opposed injustice, and wielded their pens in the cause of independence. Their lives and legacies continue to inspire us today."

He described the systematic killing of intellectuals as a profound conspiracy aimed at demoralising the nation and obstructing the triumph of independence. 

"The assassination of the country's brightest minds on the cusp of victory still causes deep anguish to the entire nation. Yet, the ideals they bequeathed—knowledge, free thinking, and harmony transcending religion, caste, or faction—ignite our resolve to build a prosperous and progressive Bangladesh," he said.

Their aspiration was a modern democratic state, but even after more than five decades, those dreams remain unfulfilled. "Democracy has repeatedly been plunged into crisis, with one-party authoritarianism stifling the state's democratic progress. Despite immense sacrifices, freedoms of expression, writing, and speech remain under threat." 

The BNP Acting Chairman asserted that, following the overthrow of fascism in the July mass uprising, the martyrs' ideals can only be realised through the establishment of rule of law, an independent judiciary, and a multifaceted political system embracing diverse views.

On this somber day, he called upon all citizens to unite in creating the Bangladesh envisioned by the martyred intellectuals and extended heartfelt condolences to their bereaved families.