Bangla Press Desk: BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman has said that when the upcoming elections are held, he will remain among the people.
He made this remark in an interview with BBC Bangla. The video interview was aired on Monday morning.
When asked why he has not yet returned to the country even though a year has passed since the mass uprising, Tarique Rahman replied, “For some valid reasons, perhaps my return has not yet happened. But I feel the time has come, Inshallah, I will return very soon.”
In response to another question about his return, the BNP acting chairman said, “Politics and elections are inherently tied with political parties and political activists. Since I am in politics and consider myself a political activist, how can I stay away when there will be a people’s anticipated election? I will make every possible effort, I will have the intention and the interest, that when the people’s much-expected election is held, I will be with the people, among the people, Inshallah.”
Regarding not being able to speak in the media, Tarique Rahman said, “During the previous authoritarian government, the court issued a formal order that effectively stopped my right to speak. If I wanted to say something to the media, perhaps the media wanted to publish it, but they could not.”
He added, “I once spoke at the Press Club. The next day, I saw that the members or committee of the then Press Club held a meeting and decided that since I was legally considered a fugitive, such a person should not be allowed to speak at the Press Club. In this way, they tried to silence me. But I did speak — through social media and various other means. I tried to reach the people, and Inshallah, I have reached them.”
“So, it is not that I did not speak in the media — I did. Perhaps you could not receive it or could not hear it, or even if you wanted, you could not publish or broadcast it. But I did speak, and I did not remain silent.”
BP/TD
[Bangla Press is a global platform for free thought. It provides impartial news, analysis, and commentary for independent-minded individuals. Our goal is to bring about positive change, which is more important today than ever before.]
