BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today called upon all to remain united to build a Bangladesh free from fascism following a struggle spanning over 16 years.
"Today, the autocrat has fallen; the autocrat has been driven out of the country. Now we must build the nation, we must rebuild the country,” he said while joining virtually as chief guest at the biannual conference of Cumilla South District BNP.
He said, “If we want to rebuild the country, if we want to develop the country according to the expectations of the people, then all of us must certainly be united."
The BNP Acting Chairman said, "When a house is built, everyone must work together. When everyone works together, when the laborers work together, it is possible to build a beautiful house. But when a house has to be destroyed, not many people are needed.”
He said, “This country is your house, my house and the house of all of us. Robbers had fallen upon this house for the last 15-16 years. The people of Bangladesh had been able to drive out those robbers. Now, Bangladesh must be built. Because this country is yours, this country is mine and this country belongs to all of us."
For this reason, he said, “Our first responsibility is to go to the people to build the country.”
Urging all to remain united, he said, "If we are not united today, if the democratic forces are not united, if we cannot unite the people of the country, then just as the autocrat sat on our shoulders after the independence of the country, just as the fascist autocrat sat on the country's shoulders with the so-called election in 2008.”
In this connection, he added, “If we fail to make the people understand this. If we are not united, then it can be said that a secret autocracy might appear in the country in the future. Therefore, we must protect the country and its people from this secret autocracy."
Stressing the need for aligning with citizens, he said, “We must keep the people with us. If we want to stay with the people and keep them with us, then we must proceed as per the wish of people...We must work, speak, and stand by the people as they desire. We must build the nation; there is no alternative to this. Thus, if the country is to be built, we must be united."
Tarique Rahman also urged BNP leaders and activists to reach out to the people, saying, "Each of you must form small teams of two or three people and go to the doorsteps and the homes of the people.
“You must deliver the message to the people that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party will rebuild the country if it receives the people's support. It will work for positive change at all levels of the country. This message must be conveyed to the people of all strata—are they adolescents, youth, middle-aged, elders, women and men," he said.
Tarique Rahman said, "Our goal is Bangladesh above all else. Wherever the interests of Bangladesh lie, there is the BNP; wherever the interests of Bangladesh lie, there is the nationalist force. That is the main point."
MN/
