Tariq Rahman, the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), stated that beneficiaries of authoritarianism are emerging both inside and outside the administration. He made these comments during a virtual discussion held on Friday (October 18) at the Engineers Institute auditorium to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation.
Rahman said, “The beneficiaries of the authoritarian government want to undermine the current government. If we do not uproot the poisonous tree of conspiracy, the achievements of the student and people’s revolution will be in jeopardy. The state must fulfill the expectations of the people.”
He added that no benefit would come from keeping the allies of authoritarianism in power. “The mafia has committed genocide in Bangladesh, but people have regained their freedom of speech. The blood of the martyrs has not yet dried. The interim government must prioritize its activities, as some inconsistencies in the current government have begun to surface.”
According to Rahman, during the authoritarian era, various leaders and activists seized land, shops, and businesses, and the interim government should take steps to recover those. “Just as the state has responsibilities toward its citizens, citizens also have responsibilities toward the state. Therefore, everyone should work with a spirit of volunteerism.”
Regarding the control of commodity prices, he stated, “Farmers, laborers, daily wage earners, and low-income people are facing a dire situation. While the prices of essential goods have risen, people’s incomes have not increased accordingly. I urge the government to take steps to reduce the prices of goods and break the syndicate to control the situation.”
Tariq Rahman further emphasized that reforms are necessary and important, but they must be a continuous and ongoing process. “There is no alternative to establishing an elected representative government to uphold the rights of the people. Working with the people on reform issues will make the process easier.”
Dr. Jubeda Rahman, the chief advisor of the Ziaur Rahman Foundation’s overseas committee, also participated virtually in the event.
