Staff Correspondent

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday urged his party leaders and workers to respond to their oppressors by making the party’s 31-point proposal a success, rather than resorting to reprisal and revenge.

“If you want to respond to the injustice, oppression, and suppression that have been done to you, you should not imitate what they (Awami League) have done. If we do so, there will be no difference between them and us. If they are wrong, should we become wrong like them? To give a response effectively, we must make our 31-point proposal a success,” he said while virtually addressing three of BNP’s workshops.

“The workshop, titled "31-Point State Structure Reform Proposal and Public Engagement," was organised by the BNP Training Affairs Committee in Narayanganj, and Gazipur cities and Tangail district.

Tarique recalled that over the past 17 years, many BNP leaders and workers were killed, made disappeared, repressed in various ways, arrested and imprisoned.

He claimed that more than 500 BNP leaders and workers were killed during the July-August mass uprising.

“Thousands of our leaders and workers suffered both physically and financially. Their homes and businesses were attacked and damaged. You will not forget these injustices. But if you want to respond, you must work to implement the 31-point outline,” Tarique said.

He said the 31-point proposal must also be implemented to counter the conspirators, both at home and abroad, who do not want democracy to flourish in Bangladesh, and who seek to prevent the political and economic success of its people. “We won’t respond to those conspirators and autocrats in their way. We’ll respond in our own way by working for the country and its people in line with our 31-point outline.”

The BNP leader said people’s right to vote must be restored as part of the response to these plotters. “Let’s take a vow that just as we’ll take the 31-point proposal to the people, we will also make it a success to respond to the autocrats and plotters. We must also devise plans to maintain the trust and confidence of the people.”
“We’ll restrain ourselves from any activities that could damage the reputation of our party, and we urge our colleagues to avoid actions that would damage public trust in us and harm our party’s image,” he said.

Tarique also urged his party leaders and workers not to engage in activities that people disapprove of. “As you do politics for the people, why do you engage in activities that erode their trust?”

He said gaining people's support through voting is a reflection of their trust. “We have to earn the trust of people to secure their votes."

“When people know you are a BNP worker, they ask, what you will do about this or that. They ask because they have confidence in your party. We must maintain this trust until the election,” he said.

Tarique also reminded his party colleagues that the next election is not the final one.

“As a political party, it is natural for BNP to talk about votes and elections. The upcoming election will be tougher. But will you stop after that? No, you will prepare for the next election with new action plans,” he said.

Tarique said BNP leaders and workers must convince the people through their plans, programmes, and the implementation of their promises.

He said BNP leaders and workers have endured torture and suffering in jail on false charges during the Awami League’s rule. “Why would you allow anyone to make your struggles and suffering futile for their personal gain? Why would you give them the chance to make you and your party controversial?”

Tarique said BNP does politics for the betterment of people, not to protect any individual’s interests.

“The people are looking at BNP with trust, believing that this party can serve their interests. So, you (BNP leaders and workers) must also focus on people. You need to understand what will satisfy them and what you should or shouldn’t do to enhance your popularity.”

Besides, he said BNP leaders must oversee the activities of their subordinate leaders and workers to ensure they do not indulge in misdeeds.

“Just as the mischievous children of a family need to be kept under tight supervision, there may also be mischief-makers in the party. We must keep them under close watch, as they may knowingly or unknowingly harm the party,” Tarique said.

He also said BNP leaders must play a very responsible role in maintaining discipline within the party and keeping its followers on the right track.