Stating that people are the real capital of politicians, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Sunday urged political parties to focus on public issues and demands alongside state reforms.
“The people of Bangladesh have many expectations from political parties and politicians. We are discussing various reform issues, including the distribution of authority. Alongside this, let us also begin discussions on the people's expectations, demands, and key goals,” he said while virtually addressing an iftar party.
In a democratic state or system, Tarique said that if people have the power to determine who should run the country, then political parties must prioritize public issues as well as the hopes and expectations of the people.
He noted that Bangladesh gained independence through the sacrifices of millions, yet democracy has been repeatedly hindered in various ways—including the introduction of the one-party Baksal rule and the establishment of autocratic governance over the past 15 years.
The BNP leader asserted that the July-August mass uprising succeeded because the people stood by political parties in support of change.
“A mafia-like fleeing autocrat (Sheikh Hasina) could be driven out of the country because people from all walks of life took to the streets and supported political parties with the expectation of change. The public must have had a strong desire for transformation… I believe their expectation now is for political parties to start working for them and addressing their concerns,” he said.
Tarique said that political parties and the media have been actively discussing various reforms, including the introduction of an upper and lower house, the tenure of the government, the term limits of the prime minister, parliamentary authority, and the balance of power.
He acknowledged that if these widely discussed reforms were implemented, political parties and politicians might become direct or indirect beneficiaries, and the political landscape could shift in certain ways.
“But what are we thinking about the people, who are our greatest asset in politics? Shouldn’t we discuss their issues and focus on their concerns? Of course, we should—because politics is for the people, and they are our most valuable capital,” the BNP leader said.
He further said that while many people are now engaging in discussions about various reforms, it was BNP that first raised the issue and recognized the necessity of restructuring the state and its institutions two and a half years ago.
