News Desk

BNP Chairman and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on May 9, urged grassroots leaders and activists of his party to work in coordination with the government to ensure the successful implementation of the party’s election manifesto, saying a “new struggle” has now begun following the national election.

Addressing a closed-door views-exchange meeting with grassroots leaders of BNP and its associate bodies at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in Dhaka’s Farmgate area, Tarique Rahman said the party’s commitments made before the election have now become the commitments of the government and the people.

“One of our battles has ended. Now another battle has begun. That is to implement the commitments we made to the people,” he said while speaking as the chief guest at the event.

The meeting began around 10:45am with the slogan “Sobar Agee Bangladesh (Bangladesh First)” and was attended by leaders and activists from BNP, Jubo Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal and Chhatra Dal.

Referring to the 13th parliamentary election held on February 12, the BNP chairman said the party leaders and activists experienced a difficult electoral contest at every stage, but ultimately received strong support from the people.

“You were on the ground during the election held in the country on February 12. I had said that the election would be difficult. Each of you felt that at every stage. The people have supported our party and our election manifesto,” he told grassroots leaders.

Tarique Rahman said the manifesto that BNP presented before the election was initially a party document, but after the election victory and formation of the government, it transformed into a national commitment.

“Until the day before the election, the manifesto we presented was the manifesto of the BNP. After the election, especially after we formed the government, this manifesto has turned into the manifesto of our government and the people of Bangladesh,” he said.

He noted that 52 percent of voters gave their verdict in favor of the manifesto and stressed that the government now has a responsibility to fulfill the promises made to citizens.

“Now we must try our level best to implement everything we said in this manifesto,” he added.

Highlighting the party’s pledges before the election, Tarique Rahman said BNP promised to establish good governance, create a healthy educational environment for students and ensure security for women, men and children across the country.

He also reiterated the party’s earlier commitments made during its anti-government movement, saying BNP wants to build a democratic political culture free from repression and politically motivated violence.

“When we were carrying out the movement against autocracy and fascism, we told the people that we want to build a country where no one will face repression, enforced disappearances or killings for political reasons,” he said.

“We want a political situation in the country where we can debate and freely express our opinions,” he added.

Calling on party leaders and activists to remain united and actively support the administration, the BNP chairman emphasized that the success of the government depends heavily on the organizational strength and cooperation of the party at the grassroots level.

“The government cannot succeed without the support and coordination of the party. So, we have to enter into a new struggle to implement all the promises we made to the people before the election,” he said.

He further remarked that the current administration should be viewed as a BNP-led government and warned that without the party’s cooperation, many government initiatives could face difficulties.

“We say that the current government is a BNP government. Thus, if BNP does not cooperate, in many cases the government will not be able to succeed,” Tarique Rahman stated.

The meeting was attended by BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as the special guest, while BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi chaired the session.

Several senior BNP leaders also joined the discussion, including Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Selima Rahman and AZM Zahid Hossain.

The gathering marked the first direct views-exchange meeting between Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and grassroots BNP leaders following the February 12 parliamentary election, reflecting the party leadership’s effort to strengthen coordination between the government and its organizational network ahead of the implementation of its political agenda.