Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman welcomed the move by the students, who led last year鈥檚 uprising to form a political party, but warned that it would disappoint the people if it was seen to enjoy the state and current administration鈥檚 support.
Speaking virtually at a discussion on Saturday, he also said that indulging controversies over the national elections would only strengthen the position of the defeated fascist forces.
Jatiya Shikkhak Karmachari Oikya Jote arranged the programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking the 89th birth anniversary of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman.
鈥楾he country鈥檚 students and youth have become interested in the state and political system, which is certainly a positive aspect,鈥� Tarique said.
He said that the young people had not been able to vote in a single election in the last one and a half decades.
鈥業f any of these young people, deprived of democratic and political rights, form a new political party to establish the rights of the people, BNP certainly welcomes聽 the initiative. But if anyone seeks help from the state and administrative support to form a political party, it will disappoint the people.鈥�
He also said that if the behaviour, comments, or statements of those intending to form a new party were antagonistic and vindictive towards other political parties, that would also be undesirable to the people.
鈥極f course, today鈥檚 youth are the future of Bangladesh. The youth will create a new path by coming out of the past, but not in a questionable way. The path should be transparent and normal,鈥� Tarique opined.
He also considered any misunderstanding or unnecessary argument between the interim government and the pro-democracy forces of Bangladesh as a waste of time.
鈥楤ut at the same time, I want to draw the attention of the government and say that if the people can patiently accept its failures in various areas, it is important for those in the government to have much more patience and tolerance.鈥�
As BNP pursues politics for the welfare of the people, he said that their party aimed to ensure the people鈥檚 political and economic power.
鈥楨lection is one of the main effective tools to ensure the political power of the people. Creating controversy over the election arrangement means unwittingly strengthening the position of fugitive and defeated fascist forces,鈥� Tarique warned.
He also instructed party leaders and activists at all levels to remain alert to ensure that no one created confusion or provoked controversy over their activities.
鈥楾he people are the source of BNP鈥檚 political power, and as long as the people are with us, no conspiracy will be able to defeat us, Inshallah.鈥�
The BNP acting chairman鈥檚 statement comes amid a political debate triggered by his party鈥檚 secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, expressing doubts over the interim government鈥檚 neutrality with students being part of it, that information adviser Nahid Islam, one of the student leaders of the uprising, countered by suggesting Fakhrul鈥檚 statement indicated BNP would prefer a 鈥�1/11鈥�-type government.
