BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman virtually spoke at event on the occasion of Buddha Purnima at the Chairperson’s office in Gulshan on Saturday. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, May 10, 2025 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today called upon all to stay vigilant so that the "fugitive evil forces against democracy" should not be able to rise again.

 "If we continue the bloody uprising of the brave people in 1971, 1975, 1990 and most recently in 2024, the democracy-loving people of the country completely agree on two issues- one is that no one can turn Bangladesh into a subservient state in the future and two is that the fugitive evil forces against democracy should not be able to rise again," he said.

Tarique Rahman was virtually addressing an exchange of greetings progeamme organised by BNP on the occasion of Buddha Purnima at the Chairperson’s office in Gulshan here.

The program began with the recitation of the Tripitaka by M. Sri Indra Banshamsa Bhikkhu, Bhadanta Sudharma Bhikkhu, Bhadanta Samaitri Ratan Bhikkhu and Ananda Priya Shraman.

At the beginning of his speech, the BNP acting chairman extended Buddha Purnima greetings to the followers of Buddhism.

He said, "The people of the country and the government as well do not want the rehabilitation of the fallen, fugitive, defeated evil forces that founded the barbaric Ayna Ghar."

"BNP wants to see this government successful. However, one thing remains here. For this reason, BNP has repeatedly called upon this government to announce an action plan-roadmap so that the public has a clear idea about the government's activities. Because, if the public has a clear idea about the government's activities, there is no room for any doubts or confusion," he said.

The BNP acting chairman called upon the media in Bangladesh to publish more images of the misrule and misdeeds of Awami Legue regime and the events of July-August uprising.

Stating that democracy is the only good alternative in the world to establish a safe and humane state, Tarique Rahman said, "In a democratic world, those who are against democracy in the state and politics are identified as the evil forces of democracy.”

“Those who have been taking away the democratic rights of the people in Bangladesh for the past decade or the party that has been carrying out fascist rule and exploitation have been identified as the evil forces by the democracy-loving people of the country," he added.

The BNP Acting Chairman said, "BNP wants to establish a democratic government in the country through direct voting by the citizens that will be accountable to the people."

However, he urged all to remain vigilant from wherever they are, so that no one can conspire to undermine political rights and voting rights of the people.

Tarique Rahman requesting the media to publish investigative reports on the incidents of the houses and places of worship of minority religious groups in various places including Ramu in Cox’s Bazar, Nasirnagar in Brahminbaria, Rangpur, Gaibandha, Sunamganj and other places during the decade and a half of AL rule.

 "Who was behind these incidents? If reports are published on these, I firmly believe that in the future, no one will dare to use the country’s religious groups in party politics," he said.

He assured that in the future, if the BNP gets the opportunity to govern the state by the will of the people, it will find out the reasons behind the unpleasant, unscathed incidents that have occurred with various communities during the decade and a half of the "fascist rule".

In this connection, he said, "We have plans to form an all-party, all-religious ‘Citizens’ Inquiry Commission’, coordinated by representatives of civil society.”

Tarique Rahman said that the first and foremost proud identity of every citizen in the country, regardless of party affiliation or religion, is that we are Bangladeshis.

“It is the policy of BNP that every citizen as a Bangladeshi will enjoy equal and fair rights in the state and society while maintaining their own religious beliefs or cultural identity."

With BNP’s Assistant Secretary for Religious Affairs Dipen Dewan in the chair, the function was moderated by Subhash Chandra Chakma.

BNP Standing Committee Members- Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Salahuddin Ahmed and Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Chairperson’s Advisory Council Member Prof. Sukomal Barua, Bijan Kanti Sarkar, London BNP President MA Malek, Kishoreganj University Vice- Chancellor Prof. Dilip Kumar Barua, and members of the Buddhist community including Maitree Dewan, Sameer Dewan, Sathi Uday Kusam Barua, Praveen Chakma, Animesh Chakma, Nikola Chakma, Prathar Pritam Barua, Chandra Chakma, Manas Thu Chakma, Lu Thu Mu Marma also spoke on the occasion.

Later, the guest members of the Buddhist community were entertained with light refreshments at the BNP’s Gulshan office.