Bangladesh Defense Forum
- Copy to clipboard
- Thread starter
- #121
Reforms vs elections debate a fallacious argument: Tarique
Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday dismissed the debate over which one among reforms and elections should precede, terming it a fallacious argument...
www.newagebd.net
Reforms vs elections debate a fallacious argument: Tarique
Staff Correspondent 02 January, 2025, 00:02
Tarique Rahman | AFP file photo
Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday dismissed the debate over which one among reforms and elections should precede, terming it a fallacious argument.
He said that both the reforms and elections were essential to bring qualitative changes to the state and its politics.
‘Reform is an inevitable and continuous process to ensure the existing system remains relevant to the times. Elections, however, are the most crucial and effective means of sustaining and institutionalising democracy,’ Tarique Rahman said while virtually addressing the 46th anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of BNP, held at Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh auditorium in Dhaka city.
He said that elections provide people with the opportunity to exercise their right to vote, which ensures the distribution of political power between the state and its citizens.
The mafia government had fallen and fled due to the limitless sacrifice of thousands of students, he further said.
‘We must be cautious not to let any rigid decisions undermine the momentum or desire for a mass uprising,’ he warned.
Tarique said that without ensuring the political and economic empowerment of people, democracy, human rights and reforms cannot be sustainable.
If the interim government failed to determine its priorities in reform initiatives, conspirators could seize the opportunity to undermine the spirit of the July uprising, he warned.
Criticising the current government, Tarique also said that despite being in power for five months, the interim government had failed to dismantle the syndicates in the commodity market and bring essential goods within the reach of people.
‘If the daily plights of people are overlooked in the name of reforms, they will eventually be compelled to speak out,’ he said.
Saying that as a democratic norm, new political parties emerge out of a country’s necessity, Tarique said that his party welcomed all democratic initiatives.
People would decide through elections which party they would accept and which one they would reject, he observed.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir iterated the party’s demand for immediate elections after completing minimum election centric reforms.
‘We have ousted a fascist regime and established an interim government, but unfortunately, a new plot is now cast to keep the popular political party away from the people,’ he alleged.
The BNP secretary general warned that the people would not accept actions that undermined democracy on the pretext of reforms.
Addressing party leaders and activists, acting chairman Tarique emphasised the importance of rising above greed and self-interest, highlighting the vital role of students and youth in creating a safe and self-reliant Bangladesh for future generations.
He said that building a knowledge-based society and state was imperative to achieve an effective presence of Bangladesh on the international stage, while at the same time ensuring dignity for its people.
Staff Correspondent 02 January, 2025, 00:02
Tarique Rahman | AFP file photo
Bangladesh Nationalist Party acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Wednesday dismissed the debate over which one among reforms and elections should precede, terming it a fallacious argument.
He said that both the reforms and elections were essential to bring qualitative changes to the state and its politics.
‘Reform is an inevitable and continuous process to ensure the existing system remains relevant to the times. Elections, however, are the most crucial and effective means of sustaining and institutionalising democracy,’ Tarique Rahman said while virtually addressing the 46th anniversary of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of BNP, held at Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh auditorium in Dhaka city.
He said that elections provide people with the opportunity to exercise their right to vote, which ensures the distribution of political power between the state and its citizens.
The mafia government had fallen and fled due to the limitless sacrifice of thousands of students, he further said.
‘We must be cautious not to let any rigid decisions undermine the momentum or desire for a mass uprising,’ he warned.
Tarique said that without ensuring the political and economic empowerment of people, democracy, human rights and reforms cannot be sustainable.
If the interim government failed to determine its priorities in reform initiatives, conspirators could seize the opportunity to undermine the spirit of the July uprising, he warned.
Criticising the current government, Tarique also said that despite being in power for five months, the interim government had failed to dismantle the syndicates in the commodity market and bring essential goods within the reach of people.
‘If the daily plights of people are overlooked in the name of reforms, they will eventually be compelled to speak out,’ he said.
Saying that as a democratic norm, new political parties emerge out of a country’s necessity, Tarique said that his party welcomed all democratic initiatives.
People would decide through elections which party they would accept and which one they would reject, he observed.
BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir iterated the party’s demand for immediate elections after completing minimum election centric reforms.
‘We have ousted a fascist regime and established an interim government, but unfortunately, a new plot is now cast to keep the popular political party away from the people,’ he alleged.
The BNP secretary general warned that the people would not accept actions that undermined democracy on the pretext of reforms.
Addressing party leaders and activists, acting chairman Tarique emphasised the importance of rising above greed and self-interest, highlighting the vital role of students and youth in creating a safe and self-reliant Bangladesh for future generations.
He said that building a knowledge-based society and state was imperative to achieve an effective presence of Bangladesh on the international stage, while at the same time ensuring dignity for its people.
