Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday said that no one, even the prime minister, will not be able to abuse power arbitrarily in future Bangladesh.
鈥榃e want to ensure that in the future Bangladesh, no one, not even a prime minister, will be able to abuse power arbitrarily. Ranging from the highest levels of the state, it will be ensured at every level of government that none is above accountability; none is above the law,鈥� Tarique said while addressing a seminar virtually from London.
BNP organised the seminar titled 鈥�31-Point Structural Reforms of the State and Citizens鈥� Perspectives鈥� at a city hotel.
During Sheikh Hasina鈥檚 fascism, people have seen the so-called politics of development, but the foundation of that failed politics were corruption, misrule and mismanagement.
鈥極n the other hand, if BNP forms the government with the people鈥檚 vote, you will see, in the light of our 31 points, the politics of people鈥檚 empowerment and participation. The foundation of our state governance will be the rule of law, human rights and freedom of speech,鈥� he said.
He said that if the BNP can bring a rule-based state structure, private investment and private capital from all over the world will come to Bangladesh at own pace.
Foreign investors will work shoulder to shoulder with Bangladesh鈥檚 public sector and they will play a role in the development and production in the country, he said.
He said that if BNP gets the responsibility of running the country, they want to restore the freedom of expression of every citizen, regardless of party or opinion.
鈥楯ust as two decades ago, during the BNP government, the media in Bangladesh could fearlessly criticise the government and draw cartoons. You must remember that a section of the media published baseless news about me and the then prime minister Khaleda Zia; they conducted media trials and propaganda campaigns. But we did not silence any media outlet, harass anyone, or send any editor to jail in retaliation,鈥� he said.
He said that, in the last 16 years, freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom of association have been completely taken away.
鈥榃e will ensure the freedom of expression of all citizens, especially human rights activists, journalists, and social influencers,鈥� Tarique said.
鈥極ur goal is to build a state structure where no one will be harassed for expressing their thoughts on YouTube, Facebook, and other online platforms, or for commenting on important people including the prime minister,鈥� he said, adding that as the mainstream and social media will not be forced to hide the truth, the government will not pressure anyone to spread false information.
However, building the country is everyone鈥檚 responsibility, and we expect a neutral and responsible role from the media, he said, adding that the culture of fear that has developed over the past 16 years through extrajudicial killings, disappearances, excessive use of force, politically motivated cases and trials, mass arrests without warrants, and extreme human rights violations will be the utmost efforts of the BNP government elected by the people to eradicate it.
鈥榃e will try to ensure the human rights and fundamental freedoms of every citizen in accordance with the universal declaration of human rights formulated by the United Nations,鈥� he said.
BNP central leaders, like-minded party leaders and experts from different sectors spoke at the seminar.