Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman said with the support of the people, BNP wants to see that the country will be run through a national government in the future.

The party's willingness to introduce a bicameral parliament through constitutional amendments to ensure governance with support from all segments of society, Tarique Rahman told a virtual view-exchange meeting with grassroots leaders and workers of the party’s Dhaka division.

“An opportunity had been lost without using the strength of national unity just after independence. We don’t want to lose that opportunity again in future,” he said.

It was the last meeting as part of the consecutive view-exchange meetings with grassroots leaders and workers.

BNP Standing Committee Members Mirza Abbas, Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan and Gayeshwar Chandra Roy were also joined, according to BNP's media cell. 

Tarique Rahman said: “Our predecessors had brought an independent country for us by fighting on the battlefield. Unquestioned national unity was the main strength to win this war. It is sad but true that we could not utilize the strength of that unity after independence.” 

The country got divided since the first day as the partisan government of Awami League came to power instead of an essential national government, he said, adding that as a result, a large section of population could not contribute to the nation building despite their willingness. 

“We have seen how one party men dominated everywhere and all others’ position became insignificant and trivial in partisan government. As a result, the country was deprived of services from a large population,” said BNP Acting Chairman.

Tarique Rahman said all of those who participated in the struggle to restore democracy and people’s voting rights will participate in running the country in the future so that the country is not deprived of the benefits of their contribution.
 
Presenting another important reform plan of the party, BNP Acting Chairman said there are numerous knowledgeable and talented teachers, artists-literature, journalists, researchers, physicians, technical experts, and humanitarian workers, who are not engaged with traditional politics in the country, but want to participate in building, developing and running the country.
 
But in the current constitutional framework, there is no opportunity for them to contribute to the nation as members of parliament, he added.
 
To utilize their services and contributions to the cause of the country, BNP wants to see that a bicameral parliament system with an upper house will be incorporated in the constitution like many other countries in the world, he said.
 
"I can only humbly share our plans and intentions for the future, because we know that the support of the people of the country can only help us implement our plans," Tarique Rahman said.
 
He asked the party men to apply their own political wisdom and strategy to tackle the invisible opponents that appeared in the recent times.

Expressing deep trust and gratefulness to grassroots leaders and activists, Tarique Rahman said they protected the party again and again in all crisis periods.

BDST: 0847 HRS, SEPT 05, 2023
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