BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today virtually addressed a discussion marking the 18th founding anniversary of the National People's Party. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, May 25, 2025 (BSS) - BNP acting Chairman Tarique Rahman today reiterated his demand for holding the next general election by December next.

BNP has reiterated its demand for holding polls by December next during the meeting with the Chief Adviser yesterday, he said.

Tarique Rahman was virtually addressing a discussion marking the 18th founding anniversary of the National People's Party at Institution of Diploma Engineers here today.

Tarique Rahman expressed his hope to see free and fair national elections under the interim government.

He said the goal of every pro-democracy political party in Bangladesh at this time is that the "fallen dictatorship" cannot return in any form.
 
"The political empowerment of the people is foremost requisite to stop dictatorship in the country. If the parliament and government are formed with the representatives of the people, it will definitely be accountable to the people," he said.

"Necessary reforms are needed to block the path of fascism and change the quality of the state, government and politics. There is no alternative to this. Reforms are a continuous process for the state and politics. However, I think that practical reforms are much more important than textbook reforms," he observed.

Calling for constructive criticism of the government, Tarique Rahman said, no matter whether it is a government elected or unelected, interim or caretaker, all should go for constructive criticism of the government.

He said people of the country don't mercy of the people. The government must accept the logical demands of the people. There is no room for the government to be arrogant or angry here.

Stating that all local and foreign investment has come to a standstill due to the lack of democracy, he said, people of every class and profession are suffering from the restive and uncertain political and economic situation.
 

Due to the unrest, he said, people of different classes and professions are coming to the streets every day with their demands. But it is sad to say that at the moment there is none to listen to them.

Tarique Rahman said the interim government has created a deadlock in revenue sector by imposing NBR reforms just ahead of the budget of next fiscal.

"This is not a very good message for the economy. Everyone believes that an accountable democratic government can play the most effective role in dealing with such a situation," he said.

Noting that reform is an ongoing process, Tarique Rahman said, reform is a continuous process. However, practical reform is more important than textbook reform.