BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday said that the initiative of state reforms will not succeed until people’s direct representatives are given the responsibility to govern the country.

“Those who believe reforms should come before the election must understand that for those reforms to be successful, people who are truly connected to the masses are needed. Without them, no reforms will be possible,” he said, virtually joining a programme at the Krishibid Institution Bangladesh (KIB).

He also warned that any delay in the election would only deepen the conspiracy against both the country and the government.

‘Amra BNP Poribar’ organised the programme for providing financial assistance to photojournalists who were injured during the July-August mass uprising against the Awami League regime.

Tarique said it was the politicians, not anyone else, who presented the reform proposals to the nation over two years ago. “If real reforms are to be made in this country, they must be carried out by real politicians,” the BNP leader observed.

He said politicians must seek suggestions and opinions from professionals, intellectuals and members of civil society to effectively run the state.

“Based on those suggestions, we will gradually move the country forward. But until the direct representatives of people are entrusted with the responsibility of running the country, no reform will be fully implemented in any way,” he said.

Tarique also said those who have a direct connection to people can understand their desires and move the country forward in line with people's wishes.

He said the country’s people want Bangladesh to be built by ensuring their basic rights and economic freedom.

Tarique said political freedom is essential for economic freedom and for building a discrimination-free Bangladesh. “To achieve this, voting rights and the guarantee to exercise the right to franchise must be ensured.”

The BNP leader said it will not be possible to secure the country’s independence and democracy overnight without ensuring people’s political and economic rights.

Tarique said the participation of people is essential to build a democratic Bangladesh free from discrimination. “The country must be run based on public opinion.”

As their party presented its reform proposals to the nation, he said other political parties can also present their proposals for people’s consideration.

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"People will decide whom they will entrust with the responsibility of running the country. Therefore, the longer this issue (election) is delayed, we believe, in various ways, the problem will increase the greater way-- not to decrease," the BNP leader said.

He said the sooner the rights of people and their ownership of the country are restored, the quicker it will be possible to pull the country back from the brink of destruction.

"One thing that everyone has mentioned here is that the longer the election is delayed, the more conspiracies will grow in different ways…already various such kinds of talks are slowly spreading," Tarique said.

He said those who have fled this country had looted a huge amount of people's money and wealth. “They will certainly spend that wealth on these conspiracies. So, if we are to bring the country back to a stable situation, if we are to keep the country united, then the responsibility must definitely be handed back to the people."

The BNP leader said their party has always believed that the real owners of this country are the people of Bangladesh.

"So, people have the sole right to decide what will happen with this country. Democracy, as understood all over the world, is about elections... It is through elections that people express their opinions... whether it is at the union council level or any other level… people express their opinions through elections," he observed.

Tarique reminded that their party along with other democratic and like-minded parties had presented the 31-point reform proposal to overhaul the state two and a half years ago.

The BNP leader explained that they recognised the need for a proper guideline and strategy to rebuild the country and restore its destroyed institutions. “That’s why we presented the 31-point state rebuilding proposal.

In their 31-point proposal, he said, they also outlined plans to address the daily problems faced by the people of the country, alongside overhauling the state.

Tarique Rahman said around 80 photojournalists were injured and repressed during the July-August mass movement.

The BNP leader assured them that they would stand by the injured journalists to the best of their ability.