In a speech delivered on Saturday afternoon, BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman urged the people of Bangladesh to stay alert so that no one can conspire to seize their right to vote. He emphasized that BNP aims to establish a democratic government through direct voting by citizens—one that is answerable to the people.

He cautioned against any attempt to deprive citizens of their democratic rights and called upon everyone, regardless of their location, to remain watchful and proactive until a truly democratic and accountable government is formed in the country.

Tarique Rahman asserted that democracy remains the most effective system for building a secure and humane state. He labeled those who oppose democratic values as destructive forces. Citing the past decade of alleged authoritarian rule, he said the people have recognized the oppressive regime as a threat to democracy.

Reflecting on pivotal moments in Bangladesh’s history—from 1971 to the popular uprisings of 1990 and 2024—he said the people have unanimously agreed on two goals: to prevent Bangladesh from becoming a client state, and to ensure that anti-democratic forces can never regain power.

He reaffirmed that BNP and its allied political forces fully support these public demands. He called for legal action against those who repeatedly violated the constitution, formed illegal parliaments and governments, and were involved in crimes like abduction, murder, corruption, and money laundering. He stressed that the people of Bangladesh do not want to see the return of failed, fugitive forces responsible for past atrocities.

While expressing support for the interim government, Tarique reiterated BNP’s longstanding demand for a clearly defined roadmap or action plan to ensure transparency and public trust in the government’s actions.

He also urged the media to play a stronger role in exposing the misconduct and injustices of the authoritarian era, particularly highlighting events in July and August, and incidents targeting minority communities in Ramu, Nasirnagar, Rangpur, Gaibandha, and Sunamganj. He encouraged investigative reporting to identify those responsible, expressing confidence that such exposure would deter future political exploitation of religious minorities.

Tarique Rahman announced that if BNP is elected to power, it plans to establish a multi-faith, all-party “Citizens’ Inquiry Commission” to investigate communal incidents and their root causes.

He concluded by affirming BNP’s core principle: that every citizen, regardless of political belief or religion, should enjoy equal rights and dignity as a Bangladeshi, preserving their cultural and religious identity while being fully recognized by the state and society.

The event was chaired by BNP’s Religious Affairs Secretary Dipen Dewan and moderated by Subhash Chandra Chakma. Several senior BNP leaders, academics, and members of the Buddhist community also spoke at the event.