Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of BNP, has requested to leaders and activists of the party not to address him as a "national leader" or "state leader" from now on.
He said: "As a colleague, my request is that from today onwards, please refrain from using the titles of 'National Leader' or 'State Leader' along with my name."
Tarique made these remarks during a virtual address at a workshop titled "31 Points for Reforming the State Structure and Public Engagement" held at the Institution of Diploma Engineers' auditorium in Kakrail, Dhaka, on Tuesday.
During the workshop, the senior BNP leader gave instructions to party members and discussed several issues, including the 31-point agenda, the future governance of Bangladesh, and tackling unemployment.
He explained that the 31 points are BNP's vision for how the party plans to govern the country in the future.
Tarique said: "There are opportunities and potential to create new employment sectors beyond Bangladesh's garment and remittance industries. We will encourage more people to engage in outsourcing through government initiatives."
Regarding reforms, Tarique Rahman said: "When BNP did not think about the country and the nation, it presented a 27-point plan. But now, when BNP thinks about these matters, we have proposed the 31 points."
He added: "We are a party that has governed the country. Perhaps we couldn't do everything we wanted to, but we have done many things." He also mentioned the contributions and decisions made during the leadership of BNP’s founder, Ziaur Rahman.
Tarique Rahman urged party members to take the 31-point plan to grassroots levels and organize discussions at the village level.
He encouraged the leaders to hold meetings in rural areas to spread awareness of the 31 points.
Quoting a student leader from Titumir College's student wing, Tarique said: "If the economic and political freedom of the people is not achieved, no reforms will be effective. Political freedom means accountability to the people. No one, whether from the government or the opposition, whether an MP or a minister, can act without being accountable to the people. To ensure this, the right to vote must be established." He emphasized that accountability can only be achieved through the ballot box.
Regarding employment, Tarique Rahman said: "There are over 10million unemployed people in the country. There is potential to create new sectors beyond the garment and remittance industries. I will try, though I may not be able to do everything quickly. However, I will be able to reduce many of these problems. It will not happen overnight, but if everyone makes an effort, inshallah, we will be able to achieve something good."
The workshop also featured a speech by Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan, a member of the BNP's National Standing Committee, and opinions were shared by leaders and activists from the Dhaka Division.
