PM seeks party support to fulfil election pledges

Prime Minister and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman today (9 May) urged party leaders and activists to engage in a 'new battle' to implement the party's election manifesto, saying his government cannot succeed without their support.

"One battle has ended, now another battle has begun. That battle is to implement the commitments we made to people," he said while addressing a views-exchange meeting with district-level leaders of BNP and its three associate bodies.

The closed-door meeting began around 10:45 am at Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in the capital.

Tarique said BNP promised to ensure good governance, create a country with a healthy educational environment for students and guarantee safety for women, men and children.

"We told people that we want to build a country where no one will face repression, enforced disappearances or killings for political reasons. We want a political culture where there will be debates and discussions but no oppression," he said.

Referring to the party's election manifesto, Tarique said it was initially BNP's manifesto before the 12 February election, but after the party formed the government, it became the manifesto of the people and the government.

"Fifty-two percent of the people who voted gave their verdict in favour of this manifesto. We must make our highest efforts to implement everything we have promised in this manifesto," he said.

The prime minister urged party leaders and activists to stand beside the government to ensure the implementation of the manifesto.

"We call it a BNP government. But if BNP does not cooperate, in many cases the government will not be able to succeed," he said.

Tarique said the success of BNP depends on the party leaders and activists attending the meeting, as well as those leading the party at different levels, standing behind the government.

"Otherwise, we will not be able to take the government to its desired goals. That is why the cooperation of all the leaders present here is needed," he added.

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

Addressing the event, Mirza Fakhrul Islam said their party's new challenge is to rebuild the country from what he described as 'ruins'.

"You have finished a major struggle. That battle was to protect the country, protect the people and safeguard democracy. You have won that war," he added.

Fakhrul said BNP secured a parliamentary majority and formed the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.

"We now face a very big challenge. We have come to government from a state of destruction. Wherever you look, you will only hear 'nothing, nothing, nothing' – that is the reality. Rising from this state of devastation and rebuilding it, lifting it up… not only the party, but also the government and the state – that is our new challenge ahead," he said.

The BNP leader said their main objective now is to overcome this challenge.

"We are confident under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, who has led us even from exile, that we achieved a successful uprising and also won a successful election to form the government," he said.

Fakhrul urged party leaders and activists to strengthen the organisation, especially at the grassroots level. "We must remember the leadership and sacrifices of our leaders and workers and ensure better coordination and organisation at all levels," he added.

Party Standing Committee members Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Abdul Moyeen Khan, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, Salahuddin Ahmed, Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku, Selima Rahman and AZM Zahid Hossain were also present.

This was the first views-exchange meeting between Tarique Rahman and the party's grassroots leaders since the 13th parliamentary election held on 12 February.

Earlier, Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said the party's election manifesto and the government's plans would be presented before the leaders, alongside discussions on organisational activities.