Interim govt must not fail: Tarique

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Tuesday said the interim government must not fail to deliver the goods while managing state affairs despite some shortcomings.

"The failure of this government means our collective failure. So, it must tread cautiously so that no failure occurs on its part," he said.

"The interim government is the outcome of a mass uprising with the self-sacrifice of thousands and the will of millions," added Mr Tarique.

He was addressing a huge rally, hosted by BNP outside its Nayapaltan central office, as the chief guest virtually from London, marking International Day of Democracy.

"The mafia government's head (Sheikh Hasina) fled the country as she destroyed the country's economy as well as constitutional bodies," he said.

About much-trumpeted reforms, the BNP leader said the first and foremost reform should be done to make an elected parliament and government through holding a free and fair general election.

"Development, democracy and reforms couldn't be sustained and effective without the political empowerment of people," he continued.

Political empowerment is possible through ensuring their right to vote and elect their representatives through a fair election, according to Mr Tarique.

While chairing the event, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said the people of Bangladesh have always joined democratic movements.

"The ghosts of fascism still remain in the interim government. They are hatching conspiracies to undermine the achievement of the student-mass uprising," he added. "We (BNP) have put forward a 31-point roadmap with an eye to giving democracy a sustainable shape," continued Mr Fakhrul.

He demanded that the interim government compensate the family members of the victims for sacrificing lives and sustaining injuries during the July-August movement against the Hasina regime.

Many BNP men sacrificed their lives for restoring democracy, Mr Fakhrul said, adding: "We have got an opportunity to establish democracy."

He hopes Mr Tarique will return home soon.

BNP standing committee member Dr Abdul Moin Khan said freedom-loving people and students created a history by ousting fascist Hasina for the sake of restoring democracy and their voting right.

He demanded that the Awami League be tried for killings students, children and people during the uprising.

BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas said Hasina fled the country but Begum Khaleda Zia did not move anywhere. "The people will hold your (Hasina) trial as BNP leaders and activists were tortured by your fascist regime," he added.

BNP veteran Dr Khandker Mosharraf Hossain said former president Ziaur Rahman restored a multiparty democracy and Begum Zia helped establish a parliamentary system of government.

The country is now free of fascism after years of struggle, according to him.

"We call upon the interim government to immediately hold a free, fair and neutral election so that the countrymen can choose their own representatives," said Mr Mosharraf.

The BNP heavyweights warned that they would stay onto streets until and unless people's voting right was achieved.

They also called upon the countrymen to remain vigilant so that the defeated force and its collaborators could not undermine victory through creating trouble and counter-revolution in the country.

Earlier, leaders and activists of the nationalist party from different parts of the capital and adjoining districts of Dhaka thronged the rally.

They chanted slogans against the fallen Awami autocracy and deposed dictator Hasina, and also in favour of BNP, party chairperson Begum Zia and acting party chairman Mr Tarique.

The rally started around 2:30 pm and ended at 6:00 pm.

The Nayapaltan gathering aside, the party also held rallies and brought out processions at divisional towns.

The rally was originally scheduled for September 15, but it was shifted to September 17 due to inclement weather on September 15. Police and RAB personnel were thick in Nayapaltan, Fakirapool, Bijoynagar and their adjoining areas to avert any untoward incident.

BNP leader Sultan Salahuddin Tuku moderated the event where vice-chairman Dr Asaduzzaman Ripon, chairperson's advisers Aman Ullah Aman, Abdus Salam and advocate Zainul Abedin, among others, were present.

talhabinhabib@yahoo.com