BNP senior leader Mirza Abbas on Wednesday said those who talk about ‘reforms’, except BNP, do not actually know what reforms the country needs, as they are only focused on gaining power.

“Those who still speak about reforms don’t even understand what to reform. They surely know only one reform, a reform that will help them come to power. This is the only idea they have,” he said while speaking at the opening session of the fourth day of BNP’s ‘Plan to Build the Country’ programme.

Abbas, a BNP Standing Committee Member, inaugurated the day’s programme and gave instructions on how party activists should approach citizens to seek votes and explain BNP’s vision and development agenda.

Highlighting BNP’s contributions to the country, Abbas said the party has always worked for Bangladesh’s progress with long-term planning.

He mentioned that many sectors, including the garment industry and overseas employment, grew strongly due to initiatives taken during the time of BNP founder and late President Ziaur Rahman.

The BNP leader said these major achievements were also ‘reforms’, even though they were not announced through any official declaration.

“Today, our economy largely depends on the garment sector. This reform was done without any prior announcement. The youth and women ministries were also formed during his time,” he said.

Abbas said he recently asked some young activists what reforms they wanted, but they could not give any clear answer. “They are using the word without understanding it.”

“One day, I was talking to a group of young boys from a political party. I asked them whether they would join our alliance in the election. They said ‘yes’, but they also have a condition. Imagine — such a big party, yet they still have a condition! They said they would join only if their demand for reforms accepted,” he said.

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Abbas said he could not understand what they meant by reforms. “I asked them, ‘Tell me, what reforms you want? Explain it to me — let me see if I can do it.’ But they could not say anything. This means they are simply talking for the sake of talking. They are calling for reforms without even knowing what those reforms are.

Tarique Returning Soon

He expressed hope that BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman would soon return to the country and take charge of both the nation and the party.

The BNP leader, however, did not mention any specific date or time for Tarique’s return.

“We should all feel proud that we have such a leader and such a chairperson. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to do politics with, and under the leadership of, a successor like our leader Tarique Rahman,” he said.

Khaleda Nation’s Guardian

Abbas said that during the BNP Chairperson’s illness, it has become clear that she is not only the leader of the BNP but also a guardian of ordinary people across Bangladesh.

“Throughout my life, I have never seen so many prayers being offered for a leader. Wherever I went, even before I mentioned praying for her, people were already prepared with religious clerics to offer prayers. Before anything else, they prayed for her. Perhaps because of these prayers and the mercy of Almighty Allah, she will return to us again, Inshallah,” he said.

The BNP leader urged everyone to pray to Allah for Khaleda Zia’s full recovery. “It hurts us to think that she should have been here with us today — in the election campaign or taking part in such programmes. We have seen her among us in the past, and we can still feel her presence.

Abbas said Khaleda’s condition is stable and has not worsened. “We will pray to Allah that her condition does not get worse and that she recovers soon.”

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At this crucial time, he said, both the BNP and the entire country urgently need a leader like Khaleda Zia, whom all political parties recognise as a guardian. “Even those parties that are our strongest opponents and do not like BNP have admitted Begum Khaleda Zia is now the guardian of all people, regardless of their political affiliation.”

BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman is expected to address the concluding session of Wednesday’s programme virtually in the afternoon.

The party earlier announced the six-day workshop on 27 November involving Chhatra Dal, Krishak Dal, Ulema Dal, Swechchhasebak Dal and other front organisations to prepare them for campaigning before the polls.

Leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal and Krishak Dal joined Wednesday’s event at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB) auditorium in the capital’s Farmgate area.