Win people’s mandate thru’ elections, not unfair tactics

Banglapress Published: 23 September 2025, 10:26 AM

Win people’s mandate thru’ elections, not unfair tactics

Bangla Press Desk: BNP’s acting chairman Tarique Rahman on Thursday called on political parties in the country to seek the people’s mandate in the upcoming parliamentary election, rather than relying on unfair tactics to block their opponents’ success. “Those attempting to confuse the situation ahead of the elections may inadvertently be obstructing the path to democracy. At the same time, they may also be paving the way for the return of a fallen, defeated, fugitive fascist government,” he said while speaking at a greetings exchange programme organised by the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddha-Christian Kalyan Front at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, in Ramna, Dhaka, to mark Janmashtami, the birth of Lord Krishna. He joined the event virtually from London. “My humble appeal to allies of the democratic movement is that the differences between democratic parties should not be allowed to reach a point where defeated fascism can exploit them and justify its past misdeeds,” he said. He added that the current socio-economic, geographical, and political conditions in Bangladesh are unsuitable for elections under the Proportional Representation (PR) system.

Tarique Rahman criticised the PR system, emphasising that people have the right to know who their representatives are. “Under the PR system, the public has little clarity on who is being elected. That is why any political party or individual wishing to represent the people must contest elections directly and earn their trust through a popular mandate,” he said. The BNP acting chairman expressed hope that disagreements between political parties over the PR system and a few other issues would be resolved over time. He also observed that statements by certain political individuals or groups regarding the forthcoming February elections are creating confusion among the public. He claimed that the fugitive dictator previously promoted anti-political tactics such as “Prevent BNP’s victory” out of fear that a fair election might hand the party the mandate to govern.

“That same tendency is now being seen in the behaviour of some individuals and groups who have fought alongside us for a dictatorship-free Bangladesh,” he added. Addressing parties and individuals attempting to block BNP’s victory through various tricks, Tarique Rahman urged them to rely on political engagement rather than obstruction and to trust the power of the people. “Do not prevent the public from giving their verdict,” he said. Conspiracy underway to erase the memory of 1971: Fakhrul Speaking at the programme, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir emphasised the importance of remembering the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War.

“I recall 1971 because it gave us an independent country and identity. Likewise, we remember the martyrs of July-August 2024 for giving us the chance to aspire for democracy,” he said. He warned of a covert attempt to erase the memory of 1971. “All citizens of Bangladesh must unite against this. Just as the nine-month Liberation War of 1971 was real, so too were the sacrifices made by martyred leaders such as President Ziaur Rahman,” he said. Mirza Fakhrul also cautioned against rising extremism in Bangladesh, stressing that it must be curbed to preserve the nation’s very existence. He urged people to move beyond divisive politics and work together for the country’s future. This article was originally published on Daily Sun.

[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.]

Win people’s mandate thru’ elections, not unfair tactics

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