[🇧🇩] Monitoring the political activities of BNP

[Saif]

Unchecked extremism may bring back fascism, warns Tarique

The acting chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Tarique Rahman, has urged the interim government to contain extremism as well as the religious extremists in order to uphold the country’s non-communal democratic character.

en.prothomalo.com

Unchecked extremism may bring back fascism, warns Tarique
Staff Correspondent
Dhaka
Published: 19 Mar 2025, 22: 52

Tarique Rahman speaks virtually at an iftar programme at the Ladies Club in Dhaka on 19 March 2025. Tanvir Ahammed

The acting chairperson of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Tarique Rahman, has urged the interim government to contain extremism as well as the religious extremists in order to uphold the country’s non-communal democratic character.

“If there is a failure to control the evil activities of religious extremists as well as extremism, the extremist groups and the defeated fascist forces will once again bury the democracy in the country. On the other hand, Bangladesh may face an image crisis in the democratic world,” he warned.

The BNP leader was virtually addressing an iftar programme at the Ladies Club in the capital’s Eskaton area on Wednesday. His party hosted the programme in honour of different political parties and dignitaries.

Top leaders of different political parties join an iftar programme at the Ladies Club in Dhaka on 19 March, 2025. Tanvir Ahammed

Tarique Rahman laid emphasis on strengthening the democratic system in the country by holding the mass murderer and fugitive mafia gang on trial at any cost.

At the same time, he reminded the interim government that any attempt to delay the national election would serve a wrong message to the people, and expressed that his party, along with other democratic parties, have been vocal for the election.

“Some advisers of the interim government, and even several political parties have recently been heard talking in a slightly different tone regarding the national election. If there is an attempt to kill time unnecessarily without showing respect to public expectations, it will send a wrong message to the public,” he noted.

The BNP leader expressed concern over the recent rise in women and child abuse and rape. “Half of the country's population is women, and it is impossible to move the country forward while leaving women insecure.”

He underscored the need to see whether the issue of women's safety is being overlooked when the government, administration and law enforcement agencies are more focused on facilitating a new political settlement.

He further noted that the fascist rule of one and a half decades not only affected education, politics and the economy; but also destroyed the religious, social, and cultural values.

“If religious and social harmony and values within the state and society are destroyed, the social system collapses and turns inhuman. A fragile state and social system becomes a fertile ground for the development of extremism,” he added.​

 

[Saif]

Politics of blaming BNP has resurfaced: Murad

Yasin Ferdous Murad, president of Dhaka District Unit of Jubo Dal, said on Thursday that the culture of spreading propaganda against the BNP, which began during the “fascist” rule of the Awami League, still prevails. “The politics of shifting blame onto BNP has resurfaced,”

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Politics of blaming BNP has resurfaced: Murad
UNB
Published :
Mar 20, 2025 22:01
Updated :
Mar 20, 2025 22:01

Yasin Ferdous Murad, president of Dhaka District Unit of Jubo Dal, said on Thursday that the culture of spreading propaganda against the BNP, which began during the “fascist” rule of the Awami League, still prevails.

“The politics of shifting blame onto BNP has resurfaced,” he said, while addressing an Iftar mahfil organised by Gamgutia Union BNP and its associated organisations in Dhamrai.

Whenever something happens anywhere in the country, people unfairly blame the BNP for it, he said.

He accused the defeated forces, along with some opportunistic parties, of conspiring against BNP to tarnish the party’s image.

Murad urged party leaders and workers to stay vigilant and resist any potential plots against the nationalist forces.

He added that the nation was going through a difficult time, which was why BNP was exercising patience and maintaining a tolerant attitude towards all. However, BNP would not accept any unfair blame imposed upon it.

He called on party leaders and workers to remain alert, ensuring that no one engages in immoral or unruly behaviour under the BNP’s name.

Murad warned that the party would take action against anyone found involved in wrongdoing, and no one would be exempt from disciplinary measures.

The Jubo Dal leader also expressed hope that, under the leadership of BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh would be free from corruption if the BNP wins the election.

“A beautiful and prosperous Bangladesh will be built with the support of the common people. We must all work together to achieve this,” he said.​

 

[Saif]

Tarique cleared of all but one cases

The Dhaka Special Judge Court 3 on Thursday acquitted eight people, including acting BNP chairman Tarique Rahman and former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, of the bribery charges.

www.newagebd.net

Tarique cleared of all but one cases
Staff Correspondent 21 March, 2025, 00:15

Tarique Rahman. | File photo

The Dhaka Special Judge Court 3 on Thursday acquitted eight people, including acting BNP chairman Tarique Rahman and former state minister for home Lutfozzaman Babar, of the bribery charges.

Judge Md Abu Taher pronounced the verdict in the case filed on allegation of taking Tk 21 crore in bribes for giving clean chit to Bashundhara Group vice-chairman Shafiat Sobhan Sanvir in Sabbir murder case.

The other people, who have been acquitted of the charges, are Miah Nur Uddin Apu, Qazi Salimul Haque Kamal, Ahmed Akbar Sobhan, Shafiat Sobhan, Sadat Sobhan and Abu Sufian.

The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case with the Ramna police station on on October 4, 2007, and the commission submitted the charge sheet on April 24, 2008,

Tarique’s lawyer Kayser Kamal told New Age that Tarique Rahman, who faced 84 criminal cases and sentenced to imprisonment in at least five cases, now has only one case left to resolve.

He said that Tarique, who was tried in absentia, was expected to be cleared of the remaining one case soon through legal proceedings.

He claimed that the cases against his client were fabricated and politically motivated.

The pending case, filed during the military-backed interim government in 2008, accuses Tarique of concealing wealth worth Tk 2.16 crore in his statement to the ACC and amassing Tk 2.74 crore beyond his known sources of income.

A Dhaka special judge court sentenced Tarique to nine years in prison and his wife physician Zubaida Rahman to three years in the case on August 2, 2023.

Following her application, the home ministry suspended Zubaida’s sentence for one year through a notification in October 2024, on the condition that she would surrender to the court and file an appeal against her conviction.​

 

[Saif]

Don’t try to rehabilitate allies of fallen regime: Tarique

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has urged the interim government not to take any steps that would allow fugitive allies of the fallen regime to be rehabilitated in the state and politics.

www.thedailystar.net

Don’t try to rehabilitate allies of fallen regime: Tarique
Fakhrul urges all to act with caution

File photo

BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman has urged the interim government not to take any steps that would allow fugitive allies of the fallen regime to be rehabilitated in the state and politics.

"By turning minor issues into major ones in the country's political arena, doubts and suspicions have been created or are being created knowingly or unknowingly ... ," Tarique said while addressing an iftar event virtually yesterday.

BNP organised the iftar event in honour of working professionals at the Ladies Club in the city's Eskaton.

"The allies of the fallen autocrat still hold thousands of crores of taka looted from the state and the people. In such a situation, holding local polls before the national polls would mean creating an opportunity to rehabilitate these fugitive fascists back into politics," he added.

BNP leader Tarique claimed that the way reforms and elections have been pitted against each other now is undoubtedly "politically motivated".

"To those who argue that national elections should be held only after reforms are completed, I would like to say -- what would be completed are not reforms... Reforms are never-ending, continuous process…," he said.

The BNP acting chief said over the past one and a half decades of "mafia rule", nearly 35 million young voters have been deprived of their right to vote.

Holding the national election must be the first step in ensuring their political empowerment, he added.

Presiding over the programme, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir urged everyone "to act with caution".

"We believe that at this moment, wherever we are, we must act responsibly. Those of us in politics, in different professions, connected to the government and the people -- we must all speak and act in a way that makes the path to democratic progress smoother," he said.

He emphasised that to tackle the ongoing problems, crises, and challenges, holding elections as soon as possible is crucial.

"The wisest task now will be to complete the necessary reforms to hold the elections.

"Our appeal to the people is that during this transitional period, we must all move forward with patience and peace," he said.​

 

[Saif]

Don’t allow the return of autocracy

Urging leaders of all political parties to remain united, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman yesterday said they must not take any steps that would allow the return of autocracy or its followers to the country.

www.thedailystar.net

Don’t allow the return of autocracy
Tarique tells political parties

Tarique Rahman

Urging leaders of all political parties to remain united, BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman yesterday said they must not take any steps that would allow the return of autocracy or its followers to the country.

"Let us uphold the unity with which we once ousted autocracy. Moving forward, we must keep this unity and work together to establish the democracy that the people of this country aspire to," he said.

"Through discussions and collective efforts, we will implement the necessary reforms that the people expect," he also said while addressing an iftar party virtually.

Leaders of the 12-party alliance hosted the iftar event in the capital's Malibagh.

Tarique urged political leaders to prioritise unity at any cost.

"There will be differences in opinions, but we must sit together and discuss. We will try to avoid anything that could, in any way, allow the return of autocracy or its followers. This should be our commitment, our pledge," he said.

The BNP leader also said that there are ideological differences among political parties.

"We do not all share the same ideology, and there are some disagreements. But there is one thing that unites us all -- Bangladesh, its people, and democracy. There is no division on this basic issue."

Expressing concern over the way reforms and elections are being pitted against each other, Tarique said, "To an ordinary citizen, democracy means one thing -- elections. A system that ensures free and fair voting without fear is what we define as democracy."

"But now, reform and elections are being set against each other," he said.

"I personally believe that reforms cannot be considered complete. Reform is a continuous process..." he added.​