Acting chairman of the party Tariq Rahman commented that BNP has no dispute with the interim government regarding reforms. He said, 'BNP has no dispute with the interim government regarding reform activities. Those who are trying to create confusion in the public mind by raising questions like 'reforms first or elections first', have different intentions. BNP thinks that the reform process, it is not a matter of ending.
He said this while addressing the chief guest at the annual general meeting of the Dhaka Journalist Union (DUJ) at the National Press Club in the capital on Monday.
Regarding reforms, Tariq Rahman said, 'When one person starts the reform process, another person takes the reform process forward. Reform is an ongoing process. But all of us, whether in government or out of government, need to remember that without a qualitative transition to a democratic political culture, political reforms are largely ineffective. If you want to implement the reforms, first of all it is necessary to reduce the daily suffering of the people. Unless this is ensured, the desired benefits of the reform program will not be achieved.'
Acting chairman of BNP said, “The interim government has already reorganized the Election Commission, while urging to hold the elections within a reasonable period of time.” We think it is important to form a representative government with people's elected representatives. BNP feels that free, fair and impartial elections within a reasonable period of time are absolutely necessary in addition to the reform work.
He said, 'People's uprising did not happen because of an election. While this is one kind of reality, on the other hand, another reality was that runaway autocracies were able to establish fascist rule in the country by repeatedly forming governments without elections. People were deprived of their rights. For this reason, elections are a key issue for the establishment of people's rights in democratic political practice.
In this context, he further said, 'An election program is not a realistic political thought if we evaluate the situation considering only the purpose of a political party coming to power. Through a fair election people get the opportunity to exercise their political rights. At the same time, through the exercise of the right to vote, the ownership relationship of the state is created with the people. To keep the government and the people free from the grip of dictatorship, it is very important to keep the citizens politically powerful.
At that time, Tariq Rahman urged the pro-democracy forces to be careful by commenting that 'conspiracy has started'. He said, 'After the escape of Awami dictatorship, the interim government started the journey with the great aspirations of the people. But all pro-democracy forces and journalists need to be careful. Various conspiracies have been launched to obstruct the ongoing march of democracy. The ousted dictatorship and their allies are trying to rise again with various tactics. Bad forces are trying to create misunderstanding between the pro-democracy forces in the country and from outside the country. But I believe that if we are all careful there will be no misunderstanding between the forces on the side of the country.'
Commenting on the importance of maintaining objectivity in journalism, Tariq Rahman said, “During the time of the last fugitive dictator, we have seen that objectivity was almost lost in every branch of the media.” Writers, journalists and intellectuals can disagree on anything. This is the beauty of democracy. But in the last decade and a half, the people of the country have felt what can happen if dissent is turned into factionalism. Along with the fugitive dictatorship, their minister-MP or Khatib of Baitul Mukarram, the president-general secretary of the National Press Club has been proved once again, not illegal state power, but ultimately the people's verdict is final.
In the meeting presided over by Shahidul Islam, President of Dhaka Journalists Union, Jamaat-e-Islam Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, BNP Standing Committee Member A ZM Zahid Hossain, Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, National Press Club President Hasan Hafiz, General Secretary Ayub Bhuiyan, Bangladesh Federal Journalist, among others. Union Secretary General Quader Gani Chowdhury, Dhaka Journalist Union General Secretary Khorshed Alam Others spoke.
DUZ organizing secretary Saeed Khan presided over the meeting.
