BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday said the country is witnessing an abnormal situation due to the absence of democracy and a lack of accountable governance, warning that several plots are underway to undermine the democratic system and ensure its collapse.
Speaking at the concluding session of BNP’s second day of the ‘Plan to Build the Country’ programme, he said promoting the idea that everyone except one particular party is bad is very harmful to democracy.
“Only democracy can ensure accountability in society and in the state. It is only a democratically elected government that must answer to the people and ordinary citizens,” the BNP leader said.
He said real improvement in the country and people’s lives-- even step by step--can only be achieved through a democratic system and a democratically elected government. “Yet many conspiracies have taken place in the past and are still going on now to make the democratic system fail.”
Tarique said that many ‘abnormal’ conditions have arisen in Bangladesh due to the absence of accountability. “Every day, when we open newspapers, we see attempts to hide the truth. But hunger speaks the truth. Empty pockets speak the truth,” he said.
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The BNP leader said people across different sectors are suffering, with mills and factories shutting down, local and foreign investors losing confidence, many hospitals failing to provide proper treatment, and numerous educational institutions struggling to operate properly
He said people now worry about mugging when they go outside, and even if they escape that, there is no guarantee they will return home safely because of frequent road accidents.
“More than 7,000 people were killed in road accidents last year. What happened to the families who lost their only income earner? Does anyone think about them the next day?” Tarique asked.
He questioned why such “abnormal” situations--regular road crashes, factory closures, a falling stock market, and collapsing banks--keep happening again and again.
“This is not normal. And we cannot allow this abnormal situation to continue. If we want to change it and bring the country back to normal, there is no alternative to democracy. Because only democracy ensures accountability,” the BNP leader said.
He accused previous Awami League governments of running the state without any accountability. “That is why whether people lived or died — there was no responsibility towards them.”
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Referring to the anti-government movement and the political change on August 5, Tarique said the people of Bangladesh, including housewives, small shopkeepers, rickshaw-pullers and even the 63 children who died during the movement, were the “masterminds”.
He said people fought for an accountable government because only accountability can gradually bring positive changes.
Tarique criticised the political behaviour of saying one person is good and everyone else is bad. “For 16 years we saw — one is good, everyone else is bad. Sadly, even after the recent change, that mindset has not fully gone. This attitude must change. It is very dangerous for democracy.”
He said democracy allows different opinions and discussions, not blaming anyone who disagrees.
The BNP leader also urged political parties to clearly show how they will improve people’s lives. “Many claim they will bring justice and good governance. But how? Where is the plan?”
He said BNP is the only party presenting detailed and practical plans covering education, agriculture, women’s welfare, farmers, healthcare and economic reforms. “Tell me, which other party has held such specific discussions? BNP has. No one else.”
Tarique said BNP believes in multi-party democracy and wants to build a country based on people’s rights, accountability and economic security.
“Step by step, we will fix these abnormal conditions and take Bangladesh towards a normal, responsible and democratic future,” he pledged.
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Tarique said if BNP is voted to power, they will again dig canals following Ziaur Rahman’s initiative to prevent flooding, ensure irrigation for farmers and stop the decline of surface water.
Tarique said they will also launch major tree plantation programmes to protect the environment.
He said BNP will train unskilled people to improve their abilities so they can secure better jobs at home and abroad.
Tarique said nation building is now BNP’s main task after the fall of the Awami League through a mass uprising.
He said half of the country’s population are women and true development is not possible by leaving them behind. “We need to empower them. That’s why we have planned the Family Card for women.”
He said they aim to provide the Family Card to 50 lakh families in the first year if they can form the government.
Tarique said BNP will introduce the Farmers’ Card for marginal and small farmers to strengthen their economic standing.
He said they will focus on primary education to ensure quality learning for children by recruiting good students as primary teachers and providing training for existing teachers.
He said BNP will also prioritise job creation in different sectors to reduce youth unemployment.
On November 27, BNP announced a six-day programme titled “Plans to Build the Country”, involving its affiliated bodies, including Chhatra Dal, Krishak Dal, Ulema Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal, ahead of the upcoming national election.
BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin inaugurated the second day’s programme in the morning with BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in the chair at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Dhaka’s Farmgate.
Leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal from across the country joined the programme and received training on eight topics — family welfare, agriculture, health, education, sports, environment, religious affairs and employment — so they can reach out to people and explain BNP’s plans, election manifesto and promises ahead of the polls.