Bangladesh Nationalist Party chair Tarique Rahman on Saturday said that an interested group was creating obstacles to the country’s transition to democracy, while the Election Commission had recently played controversial roles.
‘Even so, the BNP, as a responsible political party, is showing patience for a peaceful transition to democracy,’ he said.
Tarique was speaking as the chief guest at an exchange of views with family members of victims of enforced disappearance, killing, and torture during the Awami League regime.
Two platforms of victim families, Maayer Daak and Amra BNP Paribar, jointly organised the event at the Bangladesh–China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital.
Representatives of the victim families demanded that the BNP, if voted to power in the coming elections, must ensure justice for the victims.
Tarique said that the BNP activists did not adopt disguises in the name of technique, adding that their uncompromising stand against injustice could not be suppressed through conspiracies or propaganda.
Warning of ‘conspiracies’ to derail the country from its democratic path, he called on party activists and supporters to remain vigilant.
Recalling the genocide during the 1971 War of Independence and the political killings until August 2024, he said that Bangladesh must have a democratic government to ensure justice for every incident of enforced disappearance, torture, and killing.
‘Many children are still waiting for the day their disappeared father will return and knock the door. Many mothers still hope that their lost children will again call out “mother”. This waiting is a heavy liability for the country,’ he said.
BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, himself a victim of enforced disappearance, alleged that a certain party was hatching conspiracies to move away from the upcoming parliamentary elections.
‘We are now heading towards a democratic system after the bloody July uprising that ended the Awami League regime and its 15 years of repression of opposition politicians. We will not bear with any conspiracy,’ he said.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi urged Tarique to ensure justice for the victim families and their proper rehabilitation if the party comes to power.
Maayer Daak coordinator Sanjida Islam Tuli, Amra BNP Paribar convener Atiqur Rahman Rumon, member secretary Moksedul Momin, victim of enforced disappearance Anisur Rahman Talukder, Tahsina Rushdir Luna, wife of disappeared BNP leader M Ilias Ali, and Sabina, wife of Satkhira-based BNP leader Oliullah Mollah, among others, also spoke at the event.
