BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman said, “We gave 27 points for state reforms two years ago.”
We were confident that the autocracy of Sheikh Hasina’s government was leaving. However, we did not know when the autocracy would leave. At present, we will be able to achieve the 31 points more or less only when you can form a government with the support of the people. For this, the 31 points have to be taken to the doorsteps of the people. We will accept the decision of the people through elections.
He made these remarks while addressing the Faridpur divisional training workshop on the 31-point state structure repair and public relations issues announced by BNP on Saturday (December 7) afternoon as the chief guest. He started his speech at 5:03 pm and ended at 5:23 pm. The workshop was organized at the auditorium of Faridpur Sadar Upazila Parishad.
Tarique Rahman said, “It is my responsibility to gain the support of the people, gain their trust and maintain it in the 31-point process. To keep the people in trust, we have to work with everyone. All of you will work from your respective positions. Each of you is a leader, ambassador, and representative of BNP.”
Stating that dictatorship did not escape in the BNP’s movement alone, he said, “All parties worked, all people came together, so dictatorship has departed. However, we should not sit at home just because the people have confidence in us. If we sit quietly, nothing will happen. We should not think or act in such a wrong way that we become isolated from the people. We will be harmed by this. Therefore, those who are making mistakes must be explained and warned. We all have to work together.”
Tarique Rahman said, “If people don’t know what BNP wants, what it thinks about the people, what it thinks about students, what it thinks about women, what it thinks about farmers, what it thinks about workers, then the people won’t have support for us.”
He said, “Maybe we can’t do it all at once. But we want to start. Later, if the democratic process continues continuously, we will gradually reach a place. If we want to join this process, we need the support of the people. We want to establish accountability in the country. Not just the accountability of the Prime Minister or MP, but accountability must be established at all levels of society. No person representing the society, mayor, UP chairman, is above accountability. There was no accountability during Sheikh Hasina’s time. If there was accountability, two thousand crore taka could not have been laundered from Faridpur.”
Tarique Rahman said, “We want to create a situation in the country where the people of the country do not have to go abroad for treatment, students will get jobs after completing their education, farmers will get fair prices for their products. Just as we unitedly overthrew dictatorship, we must work together to establish accountability.”
He further said, “We have to keep the people in trust, work according to the people’s expectations, and act on the people’s words. The essence of politics is to gain the people’s trust. We have to use whatever strategies we have to maintain the people’s trust.”
In the meeting’s chairman’s speech, Shama Obaid, Faridpur divisional organizing secretary of the central BNP, said, “These 31 points of BNP are a protest against Hasina’s injustice, oppression, and oppression. This is a booklet for building a humane, transparent, and accountable state.”
Ismail Zabiullah, a member of the 31-point drafting committee, spoke as the main speaker at the meeting. Among others, Tarique Rahman’s advisor Dr. Mehbi Amin spoke.
The divisional workshop started at around 10:30 am on Saturday. In addition to Faridpur district, BNP leaders from Rajbari, Madaripur, Shariatpur and Gopalganj participated in the workshop. Leaders from different districts asked Tarique Rahman various questions during the workshop, and Tarique Rahman answered those questions.