Tarique to lead BNP in next election

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman will lead the party in the upcoming 13th national election, likely to be held in February, said his foreign affairs adviser Humayun Kabir, reports UNB.

Talking to reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Thursday morning after returning from the United States, he said, "The national election will be held in February. Tarique Rahman will lead BNP in that election."

Asked about Tarique Rahman's return to Bangladesh, Kabir said since he would be leading the party, it was natural for him to return. "He will return home soon. Once the date is fixed, you will know… There is no doubt about his return," he added.

In the 2001 national election Khaleda Zia led BNP, while Tarique played an important role in the electoral process. This time, Tarique Rahman himself will lead the party in the election.

About his visit to the UN General Assembly with Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, Kabir said the Chief Adviser was very sincere about holding the upcoming national election. "We hope the election will be held in February next year," he said.

He said the Chief Adviser led Bangladesh's delegation at the UN General Assembly, which included different political parties and showed that Bangladesh was united.

The BNP leader also defended the party over the incident at New York's JFK Airport on 23 September, when political leaders were harassed during the Chief Adviser's trip.

"Throwing eggs does not damage the country's image. Rather, it has again exposed the fascist nature of Awami League. It also proved why their political activities were banned in Bangladesh - it was the right decision," he said.

Kabir blamed the incident on poor coordination by the embassy and security officials but said the Chief Adviser had assured them that action would be taken.

He described the New York visit as a success, saying it demonstrated that Bangladesh is united and standing tall on the international stage.

Meanwhile, the dream of turning Bangladesh into Pakistan will never be fulfilled, said BNP leader Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, who is also a former power and energy state minister, on Thursday.

He made the remarks while addressing a view exchange meeting of his ward-level party activists at the Railgate area in Sirajganj.

"Over the past 16 years, they (Jamaat-e-Islami) were not active in the field. They could not observe hartal even when their leaders were executed," said Tuku.